Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 1980
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1980icar...44..730c&link_type=abstract
Icarus, vol. 44, Dec. 1980, p. 730-744. Research supported by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales and Institut National d'As
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
10
Asteroid Capture, Deimos, Eccentric Orbits, Mars (Planet), Phobos, Tides, Carbonaceous Chondrites, Equatorial Orbits, Orbit Perturbation, Planetary Evolution, Planetary Orbits, Viking Spacecraft
Scientific paper
Recent Viking results indicate that the Martian satellites are composed of carbonaceous chondrites, which suggests that Phobos and Demos were once asteroids captured by Mars. However, the low eccentricities and inclinations of their orbits on the equator of Mars argue against this hypothesis. This paper presents detailed calculations of the tidal evolution of Phobos and Demos, with consideration of dissipation in both Mars and its satellites; a novel method applicable for any value of eccentricity is used. It is shown that the orbit of Phobos appears to have evolved from a highly eccentric 'capture' orbit over the age of the solar system; this primordial orbit lay quite close to the common plane of the solar system. These dynamical results suggest that at least Phobos is a captured asteroid.
Cazenave Anny
Dobrovolskis Anthony
Lago Bernard
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