Perseverance Captures First Photo of Earth Behind Phobos from Mars

NASA's Perseverance rover has accomplished a groundbreaking feat by capturing an image of Earth as it was obscured by the Martian moon Phobos. This composite photograph, taken on July 2, 2026 (the mission's 1,907th sol), depicts Earth as a small, bright dot transitioning from the upper left to the lower right behind Phobos. This event marks the inaugural instance of Earth being photographed from the surface of another planet while hidden behind an astronomical body. Utilizing the Mastcam-Z instrument, designed mainly for Martian surface photography, the final composite was produced from multiple images of Earth in various positions around Phobos. The photos were taken shortly after sunset on Mars, showcasing a blue-gray sky near the horizon and reddish-gray above. This achievement builds on previous milestones, including Spirit's first Earth photo in 2004 and Curiosity's capture of Earth and the Moon in 2014. The Perseverance mission, managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), continues to offer remarkable insights into our cosmic location.