Theoretical Formulation of the Phobos, moon of Mars, rate of altitudinal loss

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model predicting that Phobos, Mars' moon, is losing altitude at twenty meters per century due to tidal interactions, leading to its destruction in approximately eleven million years.

Contribution

It provides a novel theoretical formulation to estimate Phobos' rate of altitude loss based on planetary-satellite dynamics.

Findings

Rate of altitude loss is twenty meters per century.

Phobos will be destroyed in about eleven million years.

Tidal interactions drive Phobos' inward spiral.

Abstract

Phobos is a moon of mars below the synchronous orbit. Because of tidal interaction it is losing its altitude and is launched on a shrinking spiral path of total destruction. Based on planetary-satellite dynamics its rate of loss of altitude is calculated to be twenty meters per century and its doomsday is predicted to be at eleven mega years from now.