This is due to the mechanics of capture.
For one object (moon) to be captured by a another (planet), some energy has to be removed from the system. If the incoming moon has an existing satellite then it would be ejected, carrying a lot of kinetic energy.
If a small body were to be captured by the planet/moon combination, it would usually be captured by the larger object. Again some energy has to removed from the incoming object by being transferred to one the objects already present. One way that could occur is for the existing moon to be accelerated into a higher orbit.
In summary, it could happen, but with a very low probability.
For much more information, see this answer to the question How do moons get captured?.
No comments:
Post a Comment