Single asteroid impact may explain two mysteries of Mars' moon Deimos

Scientists propose that a single impact by an approximately 320-metre asteroid could account for two puzzling features of Deimos, a moon of Mars: its large southern depression and its unusually smooth, dusty surface. Simulations show the asteroid struck at an angle, scattering debris across the entire moon without breaking it apart. New observations from ESA's Hera spacecraft support the hypothesis and reveal that Deimos is surprisingly porous and fragile.

Similar stories

🔬 Science NASA's Psyche spacecraft completes Mars flyby en route to metal asteroid Science Daily · 29d ago 🔬 Science Scientists detect vast thermal anomaly deep inside Mars that may explain the planet's split geography 404 Media · 8h ago 🔬 Science Perseverance captures Phobos transit across the Sun from Mars surface benchmark.pl · 11h ago