Space Sciences
re: A ring around Mars (Roche limit)
Posted by ER on 5/13/2008 6:45:18 AM
In Reply to: A ring around Mars (Roche limit) posted by Raoul on 5/12/2008 10:38:11 PM
It all depends on the physical and mineralogical composition of the moon. It is small enough that mechanical adhesion alone (as opposed to gravitational force) could hold it together. If the moon is a loosely aggregated pile of rubble (as are some asteroids) it may just crumble from tidal forces. If it is a solid block of nickel-iron, it probably won't. The truth is somewhere in between.
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