Phobos, also know as Mars I, is the largest of the two satellites belonging to the inner planet of Mars. It is one of the two satellites of Mars, the other one being Deimos. It is more than seven times more massive than Deimos, and at least three times as large. Phobos has a diameter of 22.2 km (13.8 mi) and a mass of 1.08×1016 kg.
Phobos was discovered on August 17, 1877 by Asaph Hall.
Formation[]
Phobos was first formed in the Asteroid Belt, but possibly due to perturbations in it’s orbit by Jupiter, it was captured into orbit around Mars.
Surface[]
Phobos is full of craters and valleys. Impacts are very conspicuous because there is no atmosphere to protect it from impact, normal for a moon. The Stickney crater is a giant gash in the upper regions of Phobos. In the upper left of the picture on the right, you can see the Stickney crater, a crater created by a large meteorite impact.
Future[]
In 15-50 million years, Phobos will come too close to Mars, passing the Roche limit. It will then become a ring around Mars that would be easily visible with binoculars from Earth.[1]
Gallery[]
References[]
| Geology of Mars | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regions | Cerberus (Mars) • Cydonia (Mars) • Vastitas Borealis | |
| Terrae | Arabia Terra • Tempe Terra • Terra Cimmeria • Terra Sabaea | |
| Chaos | Iani Chaos | |
| Plains | Planum Australe • Planum Boreum | |
| Mountains | Olympus Mons | |
| Valles | Valles Marineris | |
| Undae | Tharsis Undae • Olympia Undae | |
| Other | Eridania Lake | |
| Albedo Regions | Sinus Meridiani | |
| Craters | Gale • Jezero | |