Full solar eclipses dont happen on Mars.
The planets moons are too small to fully block out the Sun as they pass in front of it.
Perseverance hit 1,000 sols (that is to say, Martian days) on the planet in December 2023.
Sped-up animation of Phobos moving in front of the Sun during the eclipse.Gif: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS/SSI/Gizmodo
The rover spotted the moon Deimos passing in front of the Sun on January 20 corresponding to Sol 1037.
Weeks later, corresponding to February 8 on Earth, Perseverance witnessed Phobos making the same crossing.
Phobos blocks out more of the Suns light than Deimos.
Deimos passing in front of the Sun on January 20, 2024.Gif:Simeon Schmauß / Flickr
Conversely, the tiny Deimos isslowly moving away from Mars.
Thankfully, that gives Perseverance plenty of time to gaze at the Martian moons.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
NASAs Mars Rover Captures a Giant Dust Devil Swallowing Its Friend
Mmmm, dusty.
