Deimos: The Impish Moon of Mars

Deimos, named after the Greek god of terror, is the smaller and mischievous moon of the red planet, Mars. It was discovered in 1877 by the American astronomer Asaph Hall, who was amused to find such a small and insignificant moon orbiting around such a grand planet.

As compared to its larger sibling, Phobos, Deimos is known for being something of a joker. It is thought to be only about 7.5 miles across and weighs less than half a billion tons. But even though it is so small, Deimos is notorious for playing pranks on Mars and its inhabitants.

Deimos is often seen sneaking up on Phobos, pretending to be a giant asteroid about to collide with the neighboring moon. Mars watches with bated breath as Deimos gets closer and closer… until it suddenly veers off and leaves Phobos unharmed, much to the relief of everyone watching.

Deimos is also known for making sneaky appearances during Mars’ famous dust storms. While Mars struggles to see past the swirling debris, Deimos will often pop up and make funny faces at the planet. This can be very unnerving for astronauts stationed on Mars who are already dealing with a challenging environment.

Despite its mischievous ways, Deimos is still beloved by astronomers and amateur stargazers alike. Its tiny stature means it is often overlooked in discussions about the solar system, but it is a true gem that never fails to make us laugh.