Recent research suggests that the two moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, may have originated from a shredded asteroid that got too close to the Red Planet. These moons are unique in that they are small, odd-shaped objects, unlike the typical large, round moons found around other planets. While there are two main ideas for how these moons formed, a shredded asteroid origin could potentially explain some of the mysterious features of Phobos and Deimos.
One idea is that the moons were asteroids that were captured by Mars’s gravity, but this theory does not account for the moons’ circular orbits around Mars’s equator. The other idea is that the moons formed similarly to Earth’s moon, through a giant impact that created a disk of debris that eventually coalesced into the moons. However, a new hypothesis proposes that Mars captured an asteroid, but its gravity ripped the rock apart, forming a short-lived ring around the planet that eventually led to the formation of the potato-shaped moons.
To test this hypothesis, researchers ran hundreds of computer simulations of asteroids on close passes of Mars to see if rings could form from the shredded remains. The results showed that under various conditions, a significant amount of material could form a disk around Mars, supporting the idea that the moons formed from a shredded asteroid. An upcoming mission by the Japanese space agency that aims to collect surface material from Phobos could provide more insights into the origins of these moons.
Understanding the formation of Mars’ moons could also have implications for studying moons around extrasolar planets. By studying the formation of moons around different planets, researchers can gain valuable insights into how these processes occur in various solar systems. While the shredded asteroid hypothesis may not be the definitive explanation for the origins of Mars’ moons, it could shed light on how moons form around other planets both in our solar system and beyond.
Overall, the research surrounding the origins of Mars’ moons highlights the complex nature of planetary formation and the diverse mechanisms that can lead to the creation of moons. By exploring different hypotheses and running simulations, scientists can gain a better understanding of how the unique features of Phobos and Deimos may have come to be. The upcoming Mars Moons Exploration mission could provide valuable data to further investigate these theories and unlock the secrets behind the formation of these enigmatic moons.
