Geophysics explained the anomalous origin of grooves on Phobos, one of two satellites of Mars.
On Mars there are two types of grooves. The origin of the first channel group, the scientists found out long ago — they arise as a result of deformation of surface layers of Phobos due to tidal interaction with Mars.
The new study allows scientists to understand the origin of the remaining, abnormal channels. They originated, as shown by computer simulation, in the back drop of the particles of the satellite on the surface after the tidal destruction of Phobos by Mars.
Geophysicists have studied the origin of the large crater with a diameter of 2.6 km at the North pole of the moon. Falling back the discarded fragments of earlier rocks led to the formation of the characteristic satellite channels. Scientists say that Phobos is probably unique in the Solar system celestial body where there is this phenomenon.
Phobos (with a radius of 11.1 kilometers) is located at a distance of 6 thousand kilometers from the surface of Mars and on a spiral path at a speed of 2 meters every hundred years falls on him. This makes it closest to the planet moon in the Solar system.
