Abstract
A recent theory by Shklovskiy explained the supposed orbital accelerations of Phobos by suggesting that it is an artificial satellite of Mars. Reasonable assumptions about the physical state of the equatorial exosphere of Mars, however, lead to values of atmospheric density that could exert observable drag effects on Phobos without its being a hollow sphere. It is further shown that a required correlation may exist between solar activity and reported values of the accelerations over a period of some 60 years. As long as reliable observational evidence remains scarce, the actual existence of orbital accelerations remains in doubt. Yet, because of the potential importance of the phenomenon to the study of planetary exospheres, future observations and analyses are emphatically necessary.
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