Deimos+and+Phobos+(The+Moon+of+Mars)

**The Potato-shaped Moons**
 * SES4Ub** **By: Hiro Goto**

= = = = = **ORBITAL PERIOD AROUND MARS** = ==
 * Phobos **
 * 7 hours and 39 minutes //(Keep in mind that our moon completely orbits around Earth in about 27.3 days)//
 * 9,380 km from Mars
 * Deimos **
 * 30 hours and 18 minutes
 * 23,460 km from Mars

= **DISCOVERY** = Demios was discovered on August 11, 1877 in Washington D.C by an astronomer called Asaph Hall. Hall also recognized the existence of Phobos, six days after finding Demios. Both moons were found using the USNO 26-inch telescope, which was one of the best telescopes in that time period. == = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = **HISTORY** = Nobody is one hundred percent sure when and how these moons actually formed. However, many scientists believe that Deimos and Phobos are not natural satellites, but instead they could be pieces of meteorites that were once part of the asteroid belt. The proof to this idea is that both moons appear to have similar compositions to meteorites that are classified as carbonaceous chondrites, which is one of the most common types of meteorites in the asteroid belt. //(Further information about carbonaceous chondrites can be examined in the **SIZE & COMPOSITION** section).//



= **MYTHOLOGY NAMES** =
 * Deimos means panic
 * Phobos means fear
 * Deimos and Phobos are sons of Ares and Aphrodite.

= **SIZE & COMPOSITION** =

µ **Size (diameter):** 12.6 km µ **Density:** 1.7 gm/cm cube µ **Size (diameter):** 22.2 km µ **Density:** 2 gm/cm cube
 * Deimos **
 * Phobos **

Carbonaceous chondrites meteorites are made out of organic compounds like magnesium, olivine, serpentine, and amino acids, but surprisingly these meteorites may contain water. Therefore, water might be flowing inside the surface of these moons.
 * Composition:** Both moons are very similar to meteorites in the carbonaceous chondrites group, so scientists are assuming that their composition will also be alike.

= **A RESOURCE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS?** =

¥ Rocks made out of phyllosilicates were discovered on the surface of Phobos.

¥ This is a major discovery for scientists because phyllosilicates are minerals that form due to the presence of water.

¥ Before the discovery of phyllosilicates on Phobos, the same substance was also found on the surface of Mars. Furthermore, if humans successfully find liquid water on Mars/ Phobos, it would be a valuable resource for future generations and at the same time it creates an opportunity to find new species that could be living in Mars. This is because every place with liquid water, life has always been found.



//If you are interested, visit this article that will provide you with further information on water that could exist inside Phobos; moreover, the article also touches on theories regarding the creation of Phobos.// [] = = = **SIGNIFICANT & NOTEWORTHY FEATURES** = = = = = = **W****HAT DON'T WE KNOW** = = = = = M. When and where did the moons come from? O. What are the parallel grooves carved on Phobos' surface? O. Why does Deimos have a smoother surface compared to Phobos? N. Does water really exist beneath the surface of Phobos? = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = **FAILED MISSIONS AND FUTURE PLANS ON EXPEDITIONS** = == v __The Phobos program (launched by the Soviet Union in 1988)__
 * A moon attached to a planet rotates slower than that planet’s rotation; however, Phobos and Deimos rotates faster than Mars //(proof: Phobos orbits around Mars three times a day, but Mars finishes one rotation in// //24 hours and 39 minutes).//
 * I n 50 million years, some scientists say that Phobos will crash into Mars and form a small ring around the planet due to tidal forces on Mars bringing Phobos nearer to the planet.
 * A person can jump off Deimos by running. This is because it only has an escape velocity of 7mph (11 km per hour).
 * S ome astronomers believe that Phobos is an extremely old space probe from Earth.
 * Missions that have failed in the past: **


 * 1) Sends Phobos 1 and Phobos 2 to Mars
 * 2) The goal of this mission was to take pictures of the surface of Phobos, Deimos and Mars
 * 3) Unfortunately, the Russians experienced a communication problem, which stopped them from having control over Phobos 1. Phobos 2 also gave Russians a disappointed result when the computer inside the space probe failed to function properly after gathering all the information required

v __Fobos-Grunt (launched by the Russian Federal Space Agency in November 2011)__


 * 1) This mission was supposed to bring back samples of regolith (soil with no plants and organisms) from Phobos
 * 2) However, after launching the space probe, it was stuck in Earth’s low orbit, which made it impossible for the space probe to reach Mars
 * 3) If this mission was successful it would have bought scientists with significant amount of new samples that could have led to big discoveries

v __Project Red Rocks (NASA, planning to launch in 2033)__
 * Future plans on expeditions: **

The objective of this mission is to explore Mars and Deimos to set up an environment that will allow humans to travel on Mars. Sending astronauts to Deimos will help identify which technologies are going to be essential in order for humans to land on Mars. Furthermore, 2033 appears to be the right time to start this mission for several reasons. Firstly, it would be easier for a space probe to enter the orbit of Mars due to the orbit’s entry speed being slow in 2033. Another reason would be Deimos having a 10 month period of continuous sunlight making solar-powered devices usable during the mission.



=** SUMMARY **= This video will sum up most of the information written on this website. Additionally, it will also provide you with other relevant information about Phobos and Deimos

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__*Note: this video is filmed before the failure of the Fobos-Grunt mission__ = **Works Cited** = = = = =
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