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Mars Moon Phobos Seen in Detail
from BBC News Online
New pictures have been released of the Martian moon Phobos, acquired by the European Mars Express (Mex) probe during its recent flybys. The images reveal details down to a resolution of just 4.4m per pixel.
Mex began a series of 12 close passes in mid-February. The observation schedule continues until 26 March. One flyby skimmed past the surface at just 67km, the nearest any manmade object has ever gotten to the little Martian moon.
The new images of Phobos come from 7 March approach when the spacecraft achieved an altitude just above 100km. The pictures will help the Russians as they prepare to launch their Phobos-Grunt mission next year. The spacecraft will attempt to land on the moon, collect a soil sample and return it to Earth for analysis.
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