Slow death of Phobos

The moons of Mars, Phobos has already begun to collapse under the influence of tidal forces of Mars - to such conclusion the team of scientists from Goddard Space Flight Center. And the visible signs of this process - long furrows around a large crater Stickney on Phobos.

Previously it was assumed that the grooves - the consequences of a collision with another Phobos heavenly body, because of which there was a crater Stickney. It appears, however, that the center of grooves - not the crater center is located in another place near it. Also grooves are of different ages.

Now it is assumed that Phobos is a solid core surrounded by a layer of powdery regolith thickness of about 100 meters. Under the influence of tidal forces from Mars regolith behave like elastic fabric, but can not withstand the stresses and cracks. This model is the way It affirms observations. The same fate may expect satellite of Neptune - Triton.

Each year, Phobos reduces the height of the orbit of 2 meters because of the attraction of Mars. It is assumed that during the 30-50 million years he collapses and falls to the surface of Mars.