Mars Had Saturn-Like Rings Which Will Appear Again, Thanks To Its Moon Phobos
Mars once had rings around it like Saturn, and will have rings again soon in the future. Here's why Mars will have rings again
Earth's red neighbour Mars has two natural satellites or moons - Phobos and Deimos. Where there is talk of planets, there is speculation. For instance, scientists believe that Mars had Saturn-like rings in the past. Based on that assumption, Mars will also have rings in the future.
On June 2, 2020, scientists from SETI Institute and Purdue University showed evidence of Mars having its own rings a few billion years ago, which explains why Mars' smallest moon, Deimos has an oddly tilted orbit.
Kevin Gill on Flickr/ CC by 2.0
How Mars creates rings
In a different study, scientists suggested that Phobos, Mars' larger moon would periodically create a ring system of sorts of Mars every few billions of years. Why, you wonder? It's quite simple.
Currently, Phobos is being pulled closer into Mars' orbit. In a few billion years, Phobos will come extremely close to Mars. This is where gravity comes into play. Mars' gravity will essentially rip Phobos apart, scattering it in space and eventually locking it in a ring around the planet.
NASA
Also read: First Ever Planet Outside Our Galaxy Spotted At 28 Million Light Years Away
Over the years, the ring will become a moon again. This never-ending process will continue to form rings around Mars over time, and scientists are convinced that this has happened multiple times in Mars' history.
The oddly titled orbit of Deimos may have been dismissed as benign, but scientists from the 2020 study found it to be a significant detail about Mars - that the cycle of moon-forming and moon-destroying gravity is part of Mars' existence.
NASA
Also read: Extremely Rare Planet With Three Suns Discovered By Scientists
Essentially, scientists claimed that in the ring-satellite model, each satellite is created from the ring's outer edge. Its gravitational interaction with the ring pushes it outward. Once the leftover ring becomes one with the planet, the satellite continues moving towards the planet again, which will keep the same cycle in play forever.
Did you know once had rings, and that it would have rings again? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
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