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Phobos And Deimos

All articles tagged with #phobos and deimos

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Martian Moons: Shattered Asteroid Theory Gains Ground

New computer simulations suggest that the Martian moons, Phobos and Deimos, may have originated from a near miss by a large asteroid, rather than being captured asteroids or the result of a direct impact. This model proposes that tidal forces from Mars could have fragmented the asteroid, creating a debris ring from which the moons formed. This theory could explain their circular orbits and differing distances from Mars. The upcoming Mars Moons eXploration mission (MMX) in 2026 aims to gather samples from Phobos to further investigate their origins.

via ScienceAlert|

#astronomy #mars #moons

space-science1 year ago•1 min saved

"NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures Epic Martian Solar Eclipse"

The Perseverance rover captured rare footage of solar eclipses on Mars as its moons, Phobos and Deimos, passed in front of the Sun. These events provide valuable insights into the moons' orbits and their effects on the Martian interior. Phobos, the larger and closer moon, blocks out more sunlight than Deimos, which is smaller and farther away. Interestingly, Phobos is on a collision course with Mars, while Deimos is slowly moving away from the planet. Despite these celestial spectacles, the rover's primary mission remains the search for signs of ancient life on Mars.

via Gizmodo|

#mars #martian-moons #perseverance-rover