Image of the day: I'm Ready for My Close-Up

The most detailed close-ups of the martian moon Phobos were taken by Mars Express during a flyby on July 23.

The spacecraft flew just 62 miles (100 km) from the center of the moon, taking images in 3- D with its High Resolution Stereo Camera. Those images will help create a digital terrain model of the moon. Photometric enhancement of this image also makes it possible for scientists to study the surface of Phobos at microscopic scales.

Phobos may have arisen from the remnants of material that formed Mars, or it might be a captured asteroid. Russia has announced plans to send the Phobos-Grunt mission to the martian moon within several years. The Interfax news agency also reported today that Phobos-Grunt will carry a Chinese microsatellite on its journey.

More at www.space.com