Mars' Moon Phobos Called A 'Space Potato'? Here's WHY

2024-06-24 06:07:47

(MENAFN- AsiaNet News) Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, is a celestial oddity often called the "Space Potato" due to its irregular, lumpy shape. Unlike spherical moons, Phobos' small size and weak gravity prevent it from forming a smooth, rounded shape. Its unique appearance, combined with its slow descent towards Mars, makes it a fascinating subject for astronomers and space enthusiasts alike

Phobos, Mars' larger moon, is dubbed the 'Space Potato' due to its irregular, lumpy shape. Its weak gravity and slow descent towards Mars make it a celestial oddity worth exploring

Phobos, Mars' moon, measures just 17 x 14 x 11 miles (27 x 22 x 18 km). Its gravity is too weak to form spherical shape, resulting in lumpy, irregular appearance to a potato

Llimited gravitational pull of Phobos prevents it from achieving rounded shape like Earth's Moon. Instead, its uneven, rugged surface contributes to its nickname, Space potato

Phobos' surface is marked by numerous craters, grooves, further enhancing its irregular, potato-like look. This distinctive, non-spherical shape is a key reason for its nickname.

Varied dimensions of Phobos, being significantly longer in one direction, emphasize its potato-like shape. This irregularity makes it stand out among spherical celestial bodies.

Phobos' low density and porous structure add to its lumpy, uneven form. These characteristics make it resemble a potato more than a typical moon, supporting its quirky nickname.

The comparison to potato highlights Phobos' unique shape in solar system. Unlike spherical moons, Phobos' irregular form is easily likened to common, lumpy appearance of a potato.

Phobos is slowly spiraling towards Mars, moving 1.8 meters closer each century. In about 50 million years, it may crash into Mars or break into a ring like Saturn, Jupiter

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