This composite of images taken by NASA's Psyche mission shows the crescent of Mars grow as the spacecraft approached the planet for a gravity assist from May 2 to May 15, 2026. Because Psyche approached Mars from a high phase angle, the planet appeared as a thin crescent in the days running up to the close approach, lit by sunlight reflecting off its surface.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
This composite photo released on July 17, 2026, shows the crescent of Mars grow as NASA's Psyche spacecraft approached the planet for a gravity assist.
Psyche flew by Mars on May 15, 2026, using the planet's gravity to gain speed and slightly tilt its trajectory. The flyby also gave the team an opportunity to prep for the science they will be conducting when they reach the metal-rich asteroid Psyche in 2029.
Watch a timelapse of the encounter.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
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