Mars Moons (2)


Mars has 2 moons: Phobos and Deimos. Like Earth’s Moon, Phobos and Deimos always present the same face to their planet. Both are lumpy, heavily-cratered and covered in dust and loose rocks. They are among the darker objects in the solar system. The moons appear to be made of carbon-rich rock mixed with ice and may be captured asteroids.

1. Phobos 2. Deimos

Name Phobos
Discovery date 1877 (A. Hall)
Semi-major axis 9380 km
Diameter 27 x 22 x 20 km
Orbital period
(Length of a year)
0.319 Earth days
Phobos. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

Name Deimos
Discovery date 1877 (A. Hall)
Semi-major axis 23 460 km
Diameter 15 x 12 x 10 km
Orbital period
(Length of a year)
1.262 Earth days
Deimos. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona