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(mars's moons) patatoe shaped while larger moon's are shperical?

2007-03-24 08:54:53 · 3 answers · asked by blue october 3 in Science & Mathematics Astronomy & Space

3 answers

Deimos and Phobos are actually captured asteroids. Most moons are spherical shaped because they were formed from the gas and stellar dust that created the planets, yet did not manage to escape the gravitational pull of a larger object. These objects still had enough of their own internal gravity to coalesce into a spherical shape. (At least, this is part of the theory. Planet building is still a highly debated field.)

Asteroids, on the other hand, come from the asteroid belt, in which they merely remained rocks. Deimos and Phobos simply flew by Mars and got caught in Mars' gravitational pull. To call them moons may be overstating the fact--calling them satellites may be a more correct term.

2007-03-24 09:25:57 · answer #1 · answered by Carr 2 · 1 1

The larger the object the more gravitational forces collapse any portion that stands too tall above the what would be the smooth surface. The shape of planets and moons are usually a little different than a sphere because of the fact that they spin on their central axis. The spinning causes the shape to be fatter at the equator and a shorter distance from pole to pole than would be in a true sphere. The earth has an average radius of about 4000 miles. The tallest mountain is about 5 Miles above sea level and the lowest depth of the ocean is on that order of magnitude. Deimos has an average diameter of less than 10 miles. That means the gravitational forces are several orders of magnitude less.

2007-03-24 09:49:32 · answer #2 · answered by anonimous 6 · 0 0

confident, those 2 are the Gods of concern/terror, etc. they're additionally the names of the two moons of the planet Mars. yet that aside... i'm uncertain the place God is meant to have been afraid (interior the Bible) on some activities. confident, he admitted to different Gods present. i'm uncertain that God could be in concern of alternative Gods. in line with possibility aggravated with them, yet frightened of them? No.

2016-12-08 10:18:41 · answer #3 · answered by laranjeira 4 · 0 0

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