The mystery surrounding the strange streaks on Phobos has been solved  

It is the beginning of the end

Phobos is the larger of the two moons of Mars. Long, shallow, parallel stripes have been observed on its surface which have fired the imagination, but now a possible explanation has been found for them.

According to astronomers’ calculations, Phobos is slowly and steadily getting closer to Mars, and within the next 100 million years, gravitational forces are expected to break up the satellite, giving the Red Planet a temporary ring of dust. The researchers therefore believe that these gravitational interactions have a visible effect.

Our analysis shows that a layer of Phobos’ heterogeneous structure produces underground cracks as a result of the final fate of the satellite.

With an orbit of just 7 hours and 39 minutes, Phobos comes 1.8 centimeters a year closer to Mars. At this distance it is very likely that tidal forces are causing cracks in its body which is 27 kilometers in diameter.

Using a 3D mathematical model, the scientists examined the mechanical forces acting on Phobos. In a significant proportion of these simulations, it was found that tidal forces induced cracks in a parallel arrangement, causing the surface bedrock to collapse into the cracks. So what we are seeing may be the beginning of the end for Phobos.

The research was published in The Planetary Science Journal .