Why Venus likely swallowed its own moon
In short: New research suggests that if Venus ever had a moon, it didn't drift away like ours—it was pulled into the planet. This video explores the orbital mechanics and simulations behind this celestial fate.
While Earth’s moon gradually drifts outward, computer simulations indicate that a moon orbiting Venus would have faced a different destiny due to the planet's incredibly slow rotation. Rather than fleeing, a satellite of Venus might have wound towards the interior before impacting the exterior.
The research highlights that larger moons would have fallen even faster toward the planet. This discovery provides a clearer picture of why our neighboring planet currently lacks a natural satellite.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Where Did Venus’s Moon Go? Exciting 2026 Discoveries!
- Also: Venus may have swallowed its own moon
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