Simulations suggest Venus lost its moon to tidal forces, not a catastrophic event
A new study by Stephen Kane and colleagues suggests Venus likely had a moon that was destroyed by tidal forces rather than a catastrophic impact. Simulations show that depending on Venus's early rotation speed and the moon's mass, the satellite would have either survived for billions of years or spiraled inward to be torn apart. The research indicates Venus's current moonless state is a predictable outcome of orbital mechanics, not a rare anomaly.
