[bzrd]

There is the theory of planet X, which is probably [if it exists] a brown-dwarf companion of the sun, which would make ours a binary system. As the theory goes, this brown dwarf has a very elliptical orbit around the sun, with a period of about 3600 yrs. At one of the close encounters with the solar system is supposedly collided with the alleged parent planet of Mars, which if the theory is true, was at one time a moon and not a planet.

The collision produced what is known currently as the astroid belt between the orbits of earth and Mars. Interestingly, recently it has been found that Mars had ice only on one side of it, such as one might expect if it were in a lunar-type orbit around the parent planet, always presenting the same "face" towards the mother planet.

At any rate, it is thought by some, that Mars was thrown into a very close proximity orbit to earth, perhaps even being trapped in the earth's gravitational field, thus causing periodic catastrophic tidal effects.

It all seems quite plausible, especially considering that Mars was known in ancient times as the planet [or god] of war.

Is this true? Who knows.

Brian.

[cake_crumb]

"At any rate, it is thought by some, that Mars was thrown into a very close proximity orbit to earth, perhaps even being trapped in the earth's gravitational field, thus causing periodic catastrophic tidal effects."

I guess I should have read the entir article before posting my first reply. I should've guessed that it wouldn't be what I'd hoped.

That said, if Mars ever wound up trapped in Earth's gravitational field, how in the heck did it escape? Gravity wells aside, Mars is not in Earth's gravitational feild now, and I find it hard to believe that even if Mars is in the gravity well occupied by the earth, it would've caused massive tidal disruption before and would not continue to do so now.