DOI: 10.1038/ngeo2583
论文题名: The demise of Phobos and development of a Martian ring system
作者: Black B.A. ; Mittal T.
刊名: Nature Geoscience
ISSN: 17520894
出版年: 2015
卷: 8, 期: 12 起始页码: 913
结束页码: 917
语种: 英语
Scopus关键词: Mars
; Martian atmosphere
; Moon
; Saturn
; solar system
英文摘要: All of the gas giants in our Solar System host ring systems, in contrast to the inner planets. One proposed mechanism of planetary ring formation is disruption or mass shedding of moons. The orbit of Phobos, the larger of Mars's two moonlets, is gradually spiralling inwards towards Mars and the moon is experiencing increasing tidal stresses. Eventually, Phobos will either break apart to form a ring or it will crash into Mars. We evaluate these outcomes based on geologic, spectral and theoretical constraints, in conjunction with a geotechnical model that helps us determine the strength of Phobos. Our analysis suggests that much of Phobos is composed of weak, heavily damaged materials. We suggest that-with continued inward migration of the moon-the weakest material will disperse tidally in 20 to 40 million years to form a Martian ring. We predict that this ring will persist for 106 to 108 years and will initially have a comparable mass density to that of Saturn's rings. Any large fragment of Phobos that is strong enough to escape tidal breakup will eventually collide with Mars in an oblique, low-velocity impact. Our analysis of the evolution of Phobos underscores the potential orbital and topographic consequences of the growth and self-destruction of other inwardly migrating moons, including those that met their demise early in our Solar System's history. © 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited. Citation statistics:
资源类型: 期刊论文
标识符: http://119.78.100.158/handle/2HF3EXSE/106119
Appears in Collections: 气候减缓与适应 科学计划与规划
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作者单位: Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States; Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science, Cit. College of New York, Cit. University of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York City, NY, United States
Recommended Citation:
Black B.A.,Mittal T.. The demise of Phobos and development of a Martian ring system[J]. Nature Geoscience,2015-01-01,8(12)