During a flyby of Mars on Wednesday (March 12), ESA’s Hera spacecraft inaugurated use of its science instruments to image the smaller of the planet’s two moons, Deimos.
What is it?
The European Space Agency (ESA) launched its Hera planetary defense mission in 2024 to gather further data about the asteroid Dimorphos, which NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) impacted in 2022. To reach its target, Hera needed a gravity assist by swinging by Mars, which it during a flyby of the red planet on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
The close pass provided an opportunity for mission managers to power up and test three of Hera’s science instruments for the first time. Using the Hyperscout H hyperspectral imager, the probe captured this near infrared photo of Mars and its moon Deimos.
Where is it?
Hera was about 620 miles (1000 km) from the 7.7-mile-wide (12.4-m) Martian moon when the image was taken. Deimos orbits approximately 14,600 miles (23,500 km) from the surface of Mars.
Behind Deimos, at the top of the image, is the bright Terra Sabaea region of Mars, which is close to the planet’s equator. Huygen crater is to the bottom right of Terra Sabaea and Schiaparelli crater is to its left. To the bottom right is Hellas Basin, which is among the largest known impact craters in the solar system.
Why is it amazing?
Deimos is tidally locked, so the side of the moon in this photo is rarely seen.
Hera’s Hyperscout H hyperspectral imager makes its observations in a range of hues that are beyond the limits of our eyes. It can view the same target in 25 visible and near-infrared spectral bands, enabling it to better characterize surface materials.
Want to know more?
Learn more about Hera’s flyby of Mars and look back at the spacecraft’s launch in 2024.
You can also see images of Earth and our moon that Hera captured on its way to deep space.
