Precise mass determination and the nature of Phobos

Details Precise mass determination and the nature of Phobos Precise mass determination and the nature of Phobos

May 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010georl..3709202a&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 37, Issue 9, CiteID L09202

Physics

4

Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Martian Satellites, Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies: Gravitational Fields (1221), Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Gravitational Fields (1221)

Scientific paper

We report independent results from two subgroups of the Mars Express Radio Science (MaRS) team who independently analyzed Mars Express (MEX) radio tracking data for the purpose of determining consistently the gravitational attraction of the moon Phobos on the MEX spacecraft, and hence the mass of Phobos. New values for the gravitational parameter (GM = 0.7127 ± 0.0021 × 10-3 km3/s2) and density of Phobos (1876 ± 20 kg/m3) provide meaningful new constraints on the corresponding range of the body's porosity (30% ± 5%), provide a basis for improved interpretation of the internal structure. We conclude that the interior of Phobos likely contains large voids. When applied to various hypotheses bearing on the origin of Phobos, these results are inconsistent with the proposition that Phobos is a captured asteroid.

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