Venus ate its moon: How Earth's 'twin' could have swallowed a rocky satellite - Phys.org
New research from UC Riverside suggests that Venus may have 'swallowed' its moon due to the planet's slow rotation and gravitational forces. Unlike Earth, where the moon is moving away, Venus's spin caused its satellite to spiral inward and collide with the planet.
Why it matters
This study provides a new explanation for the lack of moons around Venus, offering insights into planetary evolution and orbital mechanics.
by Jules Bernstein, University of California - Riverside
edited by Robert Egan , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Illustration depicts active volcanism in Venus' southern hemisphere. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Peter Rubin Scientists have long speculated why Venus, with a size, mass and structure similar to Earth's, doesn't have a moon. New UC Riverside research shows that our hungry twin likely swallowed it.
In the past, scientists theorized that Venus possibly had a moon that was hit by something massive, obliterating it. Other theories centered on the idea that Venus never underwent a collision that formed a moon in the first place.
The new research, published in The Astrophysical Journal , shows that neither theory fits.
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