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Collisional Capture of an Intact Moon Depends on Strength

  • Authors: C. Adeene Denton, Erik Asphaug, Namya Baijal, Robert E. Melikyan

C. Adeene Denton et al 2026 The Astrophysical Journal Letters 1008 .

  • Provider: AAS Journals

Caption: Figure 7.

Extension of two of the three simulations shown in Figure 2 from 24 to 36 hr, illustrating the differences in satellite stability as pre-impact temperature is increased. The two simulations have Tsurf ≈ 800 K (top row) and Tsurf ≈ 2000 K (bottom row), with strength included, shown at t = 0.5, 12, 24, and 36 hr. As in Figure 2, colors represent temperature. Due to its closer initial postimpact orbit, the smaller satellite formed for Tsurf ≈ 800 K experiences tidal disruption within 12 hr of its initial formation, leaving behind a debris disk that will reaccrete. The larger, more distant satellite formed for Tsurf ≈ 2000 K remains intact during its subsequent passes of the Earth and is expected to stabilize its orbit as its semimajor axis expands.

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