A Mars scientist shares the inside story of the NASA Curiosity rover's poignant first photo of Earth and Mars moon Phobos together in the twilight sky.

In a groundbreaking achievement, NASA’s Curiosity rover has captured an awe-inspiring view from the surface of Mars, marking the first time that Earth and the Martian moon Phobos have been photographed together.

The Curiosity rover captured this image on Sept. 9, 2024, during its 4,295th Martian day (called a "sol") on Mars. It's been rumbling over Martian terrain for over 12 years, and is currently ascending the 3.4-mile (5.5-kilometer) high Mount Sharp, a place that once experienced dramatic Martian floods.

NASA's Curiosity rover just sent a rare picture from Mars. In its recent sighting, the robotic explorer was able to capture our plant Earth and one of the Martian moons Phobos in a single frame.

In an out-of-this-world first, Earth and Phobos have been photographed together in the sky by NASA’s Curiosity. The rover has previously snapped this moon and its companion Deimos, including in a beautiful eclipse, something also seen by Curiosity’s ...