Mars can make ring similar to Saturn – Correio do Estado

One of the two moons of Mars, Phobos, can disintegrate between 20 to 40 million years and debris should then form a ring around the red planet, according to a study published on Monday in the journal . British Nature Geoscience

Phobos is the larger – and closer – the two moons of Mars, the other being Deimos. Of irregular shape, it measures 27 km at its widest part.

In recent years, Phobos flybys by the European Mars Express spacecraft allowed to speculate on its composition. This moon is essentially composed of a pile of debris, with large gaps between the stones that make up the interior of the moon. About a quarter to a third of Phobos would consist of empty space.

In addition, Phobos’ orbit is a spiral that narrows (unlike our moon, moving away from the Earth) approaching inexorably Mars, against those who one day will end up crashing.

“Scientists have known for decades that Phobos is slowly approaching Mars at a speed of a few centimeters per year,” explained AFP Benjamin Black, the American University of Berkeley, co-author of the study.

Benjamin Black and Tushar Mittal, the University of New York, deduced from observational data, which could be the end of planet.

Researchers believe that the less dense components of Phobos will eventually crumble in 20 to 40 million years ago, when the effect of gravity on Mars will become too high due to the proximity the two planets. These components then disperse to form a ring.

more resistant components Phobos, but not shift the planet collide, forming a crater.

According to the study, this new ring will be monitoring Mars for millions of years.

“This ring may have a lifespan 1 million-100 million years, according to the distance between Mars and Phobos which the moon will break “said Benjamin Black.

In the solar system, the four giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) have a” ring system “.

According to the researchers the future ring Mars may have a similar density to the Saturn compound of dust and ice. The origin of Jupiter’s rings continues to intrigue scientists.