Study suggests Mars moons Phobos and Deimos may be debris from a shattered asteroid

A recent study suggests that Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, may be debris from an asteroid torn apart by Mars' gravity. This challenges previous theories about their origins, which include being captured asteroids or formed from a collision. The study, published in Icarus, highlights the moons' irregular shapes and stable orbits. Researchers conducted simulations that support a hybrid model, where an asteroid was captured and later shredded, forming the moons. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency plans to launch the Mars Moons Exploration mission in 2026. This mission aims to analyze samples from Phobos, which could clarify the moons' origins and enhance understanding of moon formation in other planetary systems.