What is the name of the two small, irregularly shaped moons of Mars, believed to be captured carbonaceous asteroids?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Phobos and Deimos
- Step 1: Mars possesses two small natural satellites discovered by American astronomer Asaph Hall in August 1877.
- Step 2: Named Phobos ('fear') and Deimos ('dread'), Phobos orbits so closely (under 6,000 km above Mars's surface) that it will either impact Mars or break into a ring within 30 to 50 million years.
Answer
Phobos and Deimos
Why not the others: 'Io and Europa' Io and Europa are large, spherical Galilean moons orbiting Jupiter; 'Titan and Enceladus' Titan and Enceladus are major icy natural satellites orbiting Saturn; 'Ariel and Umbriel' Ariel and Umbriel are spherical icy moons orbiting Uranus.
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