'You say potato': NASA releases image of ‘Phobos’, the largest of Mars' two raggedy moons

NASA has shared an intriguing picture of Mars moon that appears like a potato. The image, captured by the powerful HiRISE camera is of Phobos, the largest of Mars two raggedy moons. While sharing the picture on Instagram, the US space agency stated that the picture was taken aboard its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, about 6,800 kilometres(4,225 miles) above the surface. 

NASA shares image of Mars Moon

NASA said that the image shows a pockmarked celestial body with a large impact basin called Stickney crater. In the caption, NASA stated that "the grooves seen along its side could be the result of tidal forces – the mutual gravitational pull of the planet and the moon." The space agency mentioned that the scientists have calculated Phobos is nearing Mars at a rate of 1.8 meters (6 feet) every century, meaning it will either crash into the planet in 50 million years or break up into a ring of debris. Revealing further details about Phobos, NASA in the caption wrote, ⁣"Phobos was discovered in 1877 by American astronomer Asaph Hall, and one popular theory is that it might be a captured asteroid. In Greek mythology, Phobos and Deimos are the twin sons of Ares (Mars in Roman mythology).⁣" Take a look at the post.

Since being shared on July 13, the post has managed to gather over 1,469,098 likes and tons of reactions. Netizens, amazed seeing the image took to the comments section to share their views. One user commented, "It looks like it's made of some kind of metal." Another individual commented, "really looks like a potato. But I think it's super beautiful." Another user commented, "It's AMAZING". Check out some user reactions. 

Earlier on July 7, the US space research agency NASA, had shared some captivating photographs that belong to some other world. One of the images shows the “graceful spiral arms and pink star-forming regions”. The structure in the photograph belongs to the Whirlpool Galaxy, a galaxy that is nearly 23 million light-years ahead of the earth, with a diameter of 60,000 light-years. The second photograph portrays an infrared perspective of the cosmic spiral, exhibiting only its skeletal dust structure.

IMAGE: NASA/Instagram