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Extreme Close-Up of Mars's Moon Phobos

Posted by kdawson on from the you-lookin'-at-me dept.

coondoggie writes "The European Space Agency's Mars exploring satellite will make a number of close-up passes of the Martian moon Phobos. The Mars Express, which the agency launched in 2003, has begun a series of flybys of Phobos, the largest moon of Mars, that will ultimately set a new record for the closest pass to Phobos — skimming the surface at 50 km, or about 31 miles. This is only about 5 times the irregular moon's average radius. The data collected by the satellite could help solve some of the mysteries about the moon, beginning with that of its origin."

14 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Not what I asked for. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wanted an extreme close-up of Phoebe Cates, dammit.

    1. Re:Not what I asked for. by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 3, Funny

      Here you go!

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  2. A little plain by T+Murphy · · Score: 4, Funny

    It looks rather plain- for some reason I thought it would look a little scary or something. Not sure why.

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    My webcomic
    1. Re:A little plain by CorporateSuit · · Score: 3, Funny

      Because we haven't built our base there yet.

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      I am the richest astronaut ever to win the superbowl.
    2. Re:A little plain by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think the leather goddesses are camera shy.

    3. Re:A little plain by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2, Funny

      I was going to make a similar comment. But alas, like said Goddesses, it is never to be.

  3. Yes! by Nai7 · · Score: 2, Funny

    W00t a rock!

  4. Picture caption by jms · · Score: 5, Funny

    For sale: One Death Star. Full size. Somewhat lumpy. Amateur construction. Needs work.

    1. Re:Picture caption by RobertB-DC · · Score: 5, Funny

      For sale: One Death Star. Full size. Somewhat lumpy. Amateur construction. Needs work.

      That's just an early engineering prototype. The production model came out looking much better.

      --
      Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  5. Oblig. by Freaky+Spook · · Score: 3, Funny

    IT's A TRAP!!!!!!

    no no, wait, I got this..

    That's no moon!!!

    1. Re:Oblig. by lul_wat · · Score: 2, Funny

      Where did you dig up that old fossil?

      --
      Divide a cake by zero. Is it still a cake?
  6. Re:"Hollow"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "For the World is Hollow and I Touched the Sky" Star Trek:OS

    Maybe, there's a door camouflaged as a crater or something and there's some really hot priestess that worships a computer that's looking for a husband?

  7. Re:"Hollow"? by khallow · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hot priestess with computer? Plz send picture of computer.

  8. You'll never sell with that description by syousef · · Score: 2, Funny

    For sale: One Death Star. Full size. Somewhat lumpy. Amateur construction. Needs work.

    That'll never sell on Ebay!

    Try this:
    Act now! One Death Star. Full size. Special lumps making it even more terrifying. Created same time and in same process as other more expensive objects! Condition as new. Comes with 3 free gifts. Free shipping. Why pay more for larger when this does so well? Hurry! This won't last. Seller has A++++ rating.

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