Science Quickly
Is Mars Missing a Moon?
Jul 4, 2016
Join planetary science expert Lee Billings as he reveals a tantalizing theory about Mars' history. Dive into the mysterious fate of its moons, Phobos and Deimos, and learn about the possibility of larger, lost moons that fell victim to tidal forces. Discover the dramatic future of Phobos, which is on a collision course with the Red Planet, expected to meet its end in a few million years. Billings brings captivating insights that challenge our understanding of Mars and its celestial companions.
03:25
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Quick takeaways
- Mars likely once had larger moons destroyed by tidal forces, leaving behind the smaller moons we see today.
- Phobos is in a death spiral due to Mars' gravity, while Deimos has a stable orbit and will last much longer.
Deep dives
Mars and Its Unique Moons
Mars is known for its impressive geological features, including the tallest mountain and the largest canyon in the solar system, despite being significantly smaller than Earth. Its two moons, Phobos and Deimos, however, are much less prominent both in size and mass. Recent simulations suggest that these moons likely formed from a debris disk created by a massive impact on Mars, similar to the Earth's moon. The research indicates that larger moons could have existed initially, but were destroyed due to their rapid orbits and Mars' tidal forces, leading to the survival of the smaller moons we see today.
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