Psyche Spacecraft Captures Stunning Crescent View of Mars During Gravity Assist Flyby
May 3, 2026 – Deep Space – NASA's Psyche spacecraft, currently en route to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, has beamed back striking images of Mars as it prepares for a critical gravity assist maneuver.
The spacecraft is scheduled to pass within approximately 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) of the Martian surface on May 15, 2026, to gain speed and adjust its trajectory.
A Thin Crescent in the Void
The first image was captured on May 3, 2026, from a distance of roughly 3 million miles (4.8 million kilometers). A second image was taken on May 13, as the spacecraft drew closer to the Red Planet.
Using the spacecraft's multispectral imager with a panchromatic filter and a brief 2-millisecond exposure, the camera reveals Mars as a thin, glowing crescent.
This ethereal appearance results from a high-phase angle viewing geometry. Sunlight reflects off the Martian surface and scatters through atmospheric dust, creating a glow that extends beyond the planet's outline.
Notable features in the image include:
- The north polar cap appears as a distinct gap in the crescent. Mission specialists suggest that seasonal clouds and hazes may be blocking the scattering effect in that region.
- Irregularities along the crescent are likely caused by surface features, dust, and clouds.
- Some portions of the image are oversaturated due to the extreme brightness of the crescent.
- No background stars are visible in the frame.
The image from May 3 has been colorized to enhance its visual detail.
The Flyby and Mission Path
Launched in October 2023, the Psyche spacecraft is set to pass Mars on May 15, 2026, at a blistering relative speed of 12,333 miles per hour (19,848 kph) .
The flyby will use Mars' gravity to alter the spacecraft's trajectory and increase its velocity, redirecting it toward the main asteroid belt.
The ultimate destination is asteroid 16 Psyche, a metal-rich body approximately 173 miles (280 km) wide, located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive in 2029.
Calibrating for the Future
Since May 3, the mission team has been actively using the Mars encounter to calibrate the spacecraft's observational instruments.
"Acquiring and analyzing these images is primarily intended for calibrating the cameras and characterizing their performance in flight," stated the imaging team.
This calibration process is essential to ensure the instruments are fully prepared for the groundbreaking data collection that will begin upon the spacecraft's arrival at the asteroid.