On Aug. 17, 1877, American astronomer Asaph Hall discovered Mars's moon Phobos.
Hall was working at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. and looking through a 26-inch refractor telescope — which was then the largest in the world — when he first spotted the moon. Six days earlier, he had discovered another, smaller moon that he first described as "a faint star near Mars." Upon further inspection, not only did he realize that this star was actually the Martian moon Deimos, but he also discovered a second, larger moon now known as Phobos. He announced both discoveries the following day on Aug. 18.
Hall was working at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. and looking through a 26-inch refractor telescope — which was then the largest in the world — when he first spotted the moon. Six days earlier, he had discovered another, smaller moon that he first described as "a faint star near Mars." Upon further inspection, not only did he realize that this star was actually the Martian moon Deimos, but he also discovered a second, larger moon now known as Phobos. He announced both discoveries the following day on Aug. 18.
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00:00On this day in space.
00:03In 1877, American astronomer Asaph Hall discovered Mars' moon Phobos.
00:08Hall was working at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.
00:11and looking through a 26-inch refractor telescope, which was then the largest in the world,
00:15when he first spotted the moon.
00:17Six days earlier, he had discovered another, smaller moon
00:20that he first described as a faint star near Mars.
00:22Upon further inspection, not only did he realize that this star was actually the Martian moon Deimos,
00:27but he also discovered a second, larger moon now known as Phobos.
00:31He announced both discoveries the following day on August 18.
00:34And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:37♪♪♪