Tag Archives: tidal forces

Tidal forces are ripping Phobos apart already

Posted on July 26, 2016 by rburnham

The inner martian moon Phobos is doomed. Scientists have long known that it is spiraling in toward Mars, and will break up from tidal forces before it falls into the planet sometime in the next few tens of millions of … Continue reading →

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Phobos’ demise to produce Martian ring system

Posted on November 25, 2015 by rburnham

Mars’ largest moon, Phobos, is slowly falling toward the planet, but rather than smash into the surface, it likely will be shredded and the pieces strewn about the planet in a ring like the rings encircling Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and … Continue reading →

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Is Martian moon Phobos slowly falling apart?

Posted on November 10, 2015 by rburnham

The long, shallow grooves lining the surface of Phobos are likely early signs of the structural failure that will ultimately destroy this moon of Mars. Orbiting a mere 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) above the surface of Mars, Phobos is closer … Continue reading →

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