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RECONCILING the ORBITAL and PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of the MARTIAN MOONS

Ronnet, T. LU ; Vernazza, P. ; Mousis, O. ; Brugger, B. ; Beck, P. ; Devouard, B. ; Witasse, O. and Cipriani, F. (2016) In Astrophysical Journal 828(2).
Abstract

The origin of Phobos and Deimos is still an open question. Currently, none of the three proposed scenarios for their origin (intact capture of two distinct outer solar system small bodies, co-accretion with Mars, and accretion within an impact-generated disk) are able to reconcile their orbital and physical properties. Here we investigate the expected mineralogical composition and size of the grains from which the moons once accreted assuming they formed within an impact-generated accretion disk. A comparison of our results with the present-day spectral properties of the moons allows us to conclude that their building blocks cannot originate from a magma phase, thus preventing their formation in the innermost part of the disk. Instead,... (More)

The origin of Phobos and Deimos is still an open question. Currently, none of the three proposed scenarios for their origin (intact capture of two distinct outer solar system small bodies, co-accretion with Mars, and accretion within an impact-generated disk) are able to reconcile their orbital and physical properties. Here we investigate the expected mineralogical composition and size of the grains from which the moons once accreted assuming they formed within an impact-generated accretion disk. A comparison of our results with the present-day spectral properties of the moons allows us to conclude that their building blocks cannot originate from a magma phase, thus preventing their formation in the innermost part of the disk. Instead, gas-to-solid condensation of the building blocks in the outer part of an extended gaseous disk is found as a possible formation mechanism as it does allow reproducing both the spectral and physical properties of the moons. Such a scenario may finally reconcile their orbital and physical properties, alleviating the need to invoke an unlikely capture scenario to explain their physical properties.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
planets and satellites: composition, planets and satellites: formation, planets and satellites: individual (Phobos, Deimos)
in
Astrophysical Journal
volume
828
issue
2
article number
109
publisher
American Astronomical Society
external identifiers
  • scopus:84991625059
ISSN
0004-637X
DOI
10.3847/0004-637X/828/2/109
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
d5316038-95f3-4573-b769-694aa3f06b39
date added to LUP
2019-05-29 09:28:30
date last changed
2022-04-26 00:58:10
@article{d5316038-95f3-4573-b769-694aa3f06b39,
  abstract     = {{<p>The origin of Phobos and Deimos is still an open question. Currently, none of the three proposed scenarios for their origin (intact capture of two distinct outer solar system small bodies, co-accretion with Mars, and accretion within an impact-generated disk) are able to reconcile their orbital and physical properties. Here we investigate the expected mineralogical composition and size of the grains from which the moons once accreted assuming they formed within an impact-generated accretion disk. A comparison of our results with the present-day spectral properties of the moons allows us to conclude that their building blocks cannot originate from a magma phase, thus preventing their formation in the innermost part of the disk. Instead, gas-to-solid condensation of the building blocks in the outer part of an extended gaseous disk is found as a possible formation mechanism as it does allow reproducing both the spectral and physical properties of the moons. Such a scenario may finally reconcile their orbital and physical properties, alleviating the need to invoke an unlikely capture scenario to explain their physical properties.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ronnet, T. and Vernazza, P. and Mousis, O. and Brugger, B. and Beck, P. and Devouard, B. and Witasse, O. and Cipriani, F.}},
  issn         = {{0004-637X}},
  keywords     = {{planets and satellites: composition; planets and satellites: formation; planets and satellites: individual (Phobos, Deimos)}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{2}},
  publisher    = {{American Astronomical Society}},
  series       = {{Astrophysical Journal}},
  title        = {{RECONCILING the ORBITAL and PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of the MARTIAN MOONS}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/828/2/109}},
  doi          = {{10.3847/0004-637X/828/2/109}},
  volume       = {{828}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}