[meteorite-list] meteorites from Phobos?
Hi List and Ron, Ron Balk's "Mars Global Surveyor Images September 11-17, 2003" email sent yesterday to meteorite-list has as allways, many interesting images from Mars, but I would like to call your attention to the one under "Boulders on Phobos (Released 16 Sept. 2003) http://www.msss.com/mars images/moc/2003/09/16/index.html It shows a very interesting image taken by Mars Orbiter Camera, of a portion of the surface of Phobos, one of the 2 moons of Mars; in this particular image, it can be seen a large boulder "about 85 meter (~280 feet) in diameter" and there is the following comment "most of the boulders may have been ejected from the largest impact crater on Phobos, Stickney". My question is: Would it be possible to find on Earth, meteorites with an origin from Phobos (or the other moon Deimos)? Or would the fragments be mainly gravitationally atracted by Mars? I suppose that other factors should be considered, such as the angle and the velocity of the impactors on the moons? José Campos
[meteorite-list] meteorites from Phobos?
Hi Al Mitt and List, Regarding my question, thanks to those of you who shared your oppinions on the possibility of meteorites coming from Phobos (or Deimos) and reaching Earth. The article on the Kaidun meteorite, as having its probable origin from Phobos, was most interesting to read. Jose Campos [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [meteorite-list] meteorites from Phobos?
At 12:29 AM 9/18/2003 +0100, you wrote: My question is: Would it be possible to find on Earth, meteorites with an origin from Phobos (or the other moon Deimos)? Yes, but at present we don't really have any way to determine if a specific meteorite originated from Phobos or Deimos as opposed to asteroids of similar composition (as best we can determine the composition without actual samples). The Russians have been planning to launch a sample return mission to Phobos for some time. Last I heard they were hopeful of a late 2004 sendoff. -- Philip R. "Pib" Burns [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pibburns.com/ __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] meteorites from Phobos?
> My question is: Would it be possible to find on Earth, meteorites with = > an origin from Phobos (or the other moon Deimos)? > Or would the fragments be mainly gravitationally atracted by Mars? > I suppose that other factors should be considered, such as the angle and = > the velocity of the impactors on the moons? > It is possible, but the real trick would be to correlate it specifically to Phobos. Spectroscopic analysis of Phobos indicates that its composition is similar to carbonaceous chondrites. But spectra matches have also been found between carbonaceous chondrites and several other asteroids. And Phobos is strongly suspected of being a captured asteroid. So, unless you can find something about Phobos that makes it uniquely different from the other asteroids, it will be nearly impossible to determine if a meteorite came from Phobos or a similar asteroid. By the way, that image of the boulder on Phobos is a cool image, particurly with the long shadows. Ron Baalke __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] meteorites from Phobos?
> > Yes, but at present we don't really have any way to determine if a specific > meteorite originated from Phobos or Deimos as opposed to asteroids of > similar composition (as best we can determine the composition without > actual samples). Exactly. >The Russians have been planning to launch a sample return > mission to Phobos for some time. Last I heard they were hopeful of a late > 2004 sendoff. There's been a lot of talk, but the Russians haven't attempted a planetary mission since 1996, so I wouldn't be too hopeful. They actually attempted to land two spacecraft on Phobos. They were launched in 1988, and were aptly named Phobos 1 and Phobos 2. Phobos 1 failed enroute to Mars. Phobos 2 made it into Mars orbit, but contact was lost with the spacecraft shortly before it was to land on the moon. There was also a Discovery mission proposed called Alladin which was a Phobos sample return, but it didn't make the final cut. Ron Baalke __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] meteorites from Phobos?
Hello List, Ron wrote; "By the way, that image of the boulder on Phobos is a cool image, particurly with the long shadows." http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/09/16/index.html How would you guess that got there? Is that a true martian meteorite, a meteorite on the martian surface? Thanks, Tom Peregrineflier <>< The proudest member of the IMCA 6168 - Original Message - From: Ron Baalke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Meteorite Mailing List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 5:10 PM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] meteorites from Phobos? > > My question is: Would it be possible to find on Earth, meteorites with = > > an origin from Phobos (or the other moon Deimos)? > > Or would the fragments be mainly gravitationally atracted by Mars? > > I suppose that other factors should be considered, such as the angle and = > > the velocity of the impactors on the moons? > > > > It is possible, but the real trick would be to correlate it specifically to > Phobos. Spectroscopic analysis of Phobos indicates that its composition is similar > to carbonaceous chondrites. But spectra matches have also been found between > carbonaceous chondrites and several other asteroids. And Phobos is strongly > suspected of being a captured asteroid. So, unless you can find something > about Phobos that makes it uniquely different from the other asteroids, it will > be nearly impossible to determine if a meteorite came from Phobos or a > similar asteroid. > > By the way, that image of the boulder on Phobos is a cool image, particurly > with the long shadows. > > Ron Baalke > > __ > Meteorite-list mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] meteorites from Phobos?
> "By the way, that image of the boulder on Phobos is a cool image, particurly > with the long shadows." > http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/09/16/index.html > > How would you guess that got there? Is that a true martian meteorite, a > meteorite on the martian surface? > >From the image caption: Several large boulders can be seen, including a very large one near the center that is about 85 meters (~280 feet) in diameter. Most of the boulders may have been ejected from the largest impact crater on Phobos, Stickney. Ron Baalke __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] meteorites from Phobos?
Hi Jose and all, Yes, very possible that we might have samples from both the Martian moons as well as Mars. The spectral matches for Phobos seem to match the CV3's type meteorites like Allende, Mexico and have been suggested in the past. However there are many other asteroids that have this spectral characteristics (same asteroid? broken up?) and may, there fore be the parent body, instead of the Martian Moons ( captured asteroids by Mars). All my best! --AL Mitterling Mitterling Meteorites __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
