Emirates Mars Mission takes first high-resolution images of Mars' moon Deimos

25 April 2023

Close-up: Deimos with Mars in the background as taken by the Emirate Mars Mission on 10 March 2023 (courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission)

The United Arab Emirates Mars probe has taken the first high-resolution images of Deimos, the smaller and lesser observed of Mars' two moons. The photos were released yesterday at Vienna's week-long European Geosciences Union meeting.

The Emirates Mars Mission, also known as Hope, was launched in July 2020 and arrived at Mars in February 2021. The probe carries three instruments: an ultraviolet spectrometer, an infrared spectrometer, and a high-resolution imager.

The image above, taken on 10 March, shows Mars and the near-side of Deimos captured in their exact relative positions. According to Hope science lead Hessa Al Matroushi from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, the craft's orbit allowed many flybys of Deimos that resulted in clear images, with the closest distance the probe came to the moon being 100 km.

"Because of our orbit, we can take pictures not only from the near side but from the far side," Al Matroushi told Physics World. "We are looking at Deimos from all sides."

Hope's ultraviolet spectrometer data matches that from Mars' other moon – Phobos. This suggests that the two moons likely originated from breakoff matter from Mars, which has a basaltic makeup. READ MORE

United Arab Emirates Hope probe enters Martian orbit.

The main aim of Hope is to study the atmosphere of Mars, and the mission has been extended for one more year. Al Matroushi hopes to now observe the effects of the varying solar cycle on the planet.

Al Matroushi also expects Hope's findings to benefit other missions, such as Japan's Martian Moons Exploration, which is set to launch next year and plans to study Phobos and Deimos and retrieve samples from Phobos.

"It is essential how missions can benefit one another," adds Al Matroushi. "No one mission can do it all."

Richard Blaustein is a science writer reporting from Vienna's European Geophysical Union meeting.