Martian moonrise captured by Curiosity [VIDEO]

NASA's Curiosity rover captured the Martian moonrise this week, in a video comprised of 86 frames taken with its navigational camera.

"You asked for the moon. Here it is! See footage from my Navcam of Mars' moon Phobos rising," NASA tweeted on behalf of Curiosity.

Phobos is an average of just 14 miles wide, and Mars' other moon, Deimos, is even smaller -- hardly distinguishable from distant stars. Though the video lasts just 32 seconds, the moonrise it depicts actually took place over 27 minutes. Phobos can be seen moving from lower center to the top of the video.

Officials say the large, diffuse ring visible in the video is an artifact caused by the scattering of light inside the camera.