This is a photo of Phobos, the largest and innermost of Mars's two moons. It is the darkest moon in the Solar System. It has an unusual color and orbit allude to the possibility that it may be a captured asteroid composed of a mixture of ice and dark rock. This photo of Phobos was taken last month by the robot spacecraft Mars Express which is currently orbiting Mars. Phobos has many craters and is barren and its largest crater, Stickney, is located on the far side. Using photos like this one, it has been determined that Phobos is covered by about a meter of loose dust. Phobos has an unusual orbit because it is so close to Mars. From some places it appears to rise and set twice a day but from some places it is not visible at all. Phobos' orbit around Mars is chronically decaying and it is predicted to break-up with pieces falling on Mars in about 50 million years.
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