Martian moon Phobos in detail

[bonzelite]

that is a good idea, mikee. i didn't think about that. however, i'd go for tidal stretching if the lines were coarser, less refined, and without integral geometrically aligned linear pitting. <br /><br />whatever it is seems entirely alien to any tool in the trick bag we have without resorting to dreaded fringe ideas. even i am not willing to really go there, however tempting. <br /><br />

 

[ag30476]

> ...the lateral grooves and the dotted lines of craters are <br /> /> the same structure. so they were created by the same event <br /> /> and the same force. for me, this tableaux of lines in no <br /> /> way elicits --in any fashion-- impact origin. <br /> /> ...<br /> /> and again i have no idea what could have made it. it doesn't<br /> /> really resemble any other marking structure in the solar system<br /> /> that i am aware of. indeed, crater chains are on our moon, <br /> /> but i don't think in conjunction with a geometrically perfectly<br /> /> refined swath of parrallel lines of varying widths that are one<br /> /> and the same structure with the cratering lines. <br /><br />What's the difference between the "dotted lines" in Phobos and the ones on Gaspra and Eros except that there are more of them on Phobos?<br /><br />http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/images/gaspra2.jpg<br />http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0004/30near/index.html<br /><br />And the grroves always seem to be associated with large impact crater. That is they run in parallel away from a large impact crater. I'm not saying I can explain the "dotted lines" but it seems like a relatively common natural phenomenon.

 

[bonzelite]

you are answering your own question. there is little difference <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> the process is similar, if not the <b>same</b>, whatever it was. <br /> <br />the dotted lines of tiny craters are seen to intermingle and define some of the linear grooves. that is, they are not merely laid on top of the lines "later," but, instead, represent an aspect of the same process that created the entire display of lines. <br /><br />earth's moon, as well, has similar dotted lines of craters, all in a row with linear structures near or in them. and the structures can occur near a larger crater or not.

 

[ag30476]

Well were not really in disagreement because you say "i don't have any idea how the structures were created" and I say the same thing. And I agree, it would be natural to assume that "grooves" and "pits" are caused by the same event. <br /><br />But you do say that "except for the larger craters that resemble traditional impact basin structures with rims/ramparts, the linear pitting and grooving, at least to me, seems completely created from an external piece of hanidwork diassociated with impact events" and "for me, this tableaux of lines in no way elicits --in any fashion-- impact origin." <br /><br />I'm just pointing out that similar "dotted lines" appear on Gaspra and Eros. And the grooves there are associated with a large impact.<br /><br />I cited those for comparion to Phobos instead of the Earth's Moon because the Moon is a large body while Phobos is relatively small. Large impacts on the Moon (relative to the size of the Moon) may be associated with volcanic activity. <br />Gaspra, Eros and Phobos are small bodies. Large impacts on those three do not produce volcanic activity (as we would expect). Instead, in some cases we see "dotted lines" (grooves with what look like small craters) running away from some large craters (I said parallel before but that was a mistake.). This map shows the relation of the grooves to Stickney.<br />http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf004/sf004p03.htm<br /><br />I'm not saying that this proves a large impact caused (directly or indirectly) the "dotted lines" on Phobos or any of the bodies. I'm just you can't rule out that the large impacts had a role to play in creating the "dotted" grooves at this point. <br /><br />Obviously more data is needed before the problem can be resolved.

 

[bonzelite]

right on. yes. <br /><br />we cannot rule out anything right now. but we can have extreme predjudice against certain explanations. impacts are made to be accountable for too many unexplainable things. the marking structures on Phobos are exceedingly far away, in my opinion, from mere impact effects. the handiwork is far too refined and detailed and geometric for even the most complicated of impact structures. <br /><br />it's late. i need to go to bed. i've spent too much time on this forum today.

 

[CalliArcale]

That is very interesting. Thank you for sharing that. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>