VIDEO: NASA's view of a Martian solar eclipse

Although these phenomena aren't true eclipses as witnessed on Earth, they represent transits where the Sun's light is never entirely obstructed
A still from a Perseverance video of Phobos transiting the Sun. — NASA/JPL
A still from a Perseverance video of Phobos transiting the Sun. — NASA/JPL 

In a celestial dance resembling our Earthly marvels, Mars unveils its own cosmic wonders right next door, courtesy of its moons, Phobos and Deimos. These cosmic neighbours, similar to our Moon's role on Earth, create shadowy spectacles across the Martian landscape that continue to fascinate scientists.

While Mars experiences its lunar counterparts casting shadows on its surface similar to eclipses, these occurrences are markedly distinct from our Earthly eclipses. Phobos, named after "fear" in Ancient Greek, and Deimos, known as "dread," orbit Mars in significantly shorter cycles of 7.65 and 30.35 hours respectively, a stark contrast to our Moon's 27-day orbit.

In contrast to our Moon's smooth, rounded appearance, Mars' moons appear notably smaller and more irregular in shape — resembling lumpy "moontatoes" drifting across the Martian skies.

Although these phenomena aren't true eclipses as witnessed on Earth, they represent transits where the Sun's light is never entirely obstructed. When these peculiar Martian moonlets traverse between the Sun and observers on the Martian surface, they cast shadows that don't completely obscure the star, unlike the Moon's complete coverage during Earth's solar eclipses.

Captured by the Perseverance rover, a remarkable video illustrates one such transit.

These celestial interplays have more than visual significance. Scientific observations during Phobos' shadow crossings have revealed intriguing effects on Mars. The Mars InSight lander, designed to measure seismic activity, subtly tilts during these moments. Researchers attribute this subtle shift to the planet's surface deformation caused by the slight cooling effect resulting from reduced solar radiation.

Of the two moons, Phobos exhibits a larger silhouette, blocking up to 40 percent of the Sun's light even when fully engulfed in its radiance. Meanwhile, Deimos, situated farther and smaller, obscures significantly less light, underscoring the uniqueness of our planet's celestial wonders.