Craters and impacts in the Solar System National College Iasi

Craters and Craters and impacts in the impacts in the

Solar SystemSolar System

National College Iasi

The Solar SystemThe Solar System

The Solar System The Solar System consists of the Sun and the consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects bound astronomical objects bound to it by gravity. to it by gravity.


All of which formed All of which formed from the collapse of a giant from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion approximately 4.6 billion years ago.years ago.


Crater formationCrater formation

Impact cratering involves Impact cratering involves high velocity collisions high velocity collisions between solid objects.between solid objects.


Schemes



Contact and Contact and compressioncompression

In the In the absence absence of of atmospheatmosphere, the re, the impact impact process process begins begins whenwhen

the impactor first touches the impactor first touches the target surface. the target surface.



ExcavationExcavation

During excavation, the During excavation, the crater grows as the crater grows as the accelerated target material accelerated target material moves away from the moves away from the impact point. impact point.



Modification and Modification and collapsecollapse

In most circumstances, In most circumstances, the transient cavity is not the transient cavity is not stable: it collapses under stable: it collapses under gravity.gravity.


Multi-ringed Multi-ringed impact basin impact basin Valhalla on Valhalla on Jupiter's moon Jupiter's moon CallistoCallisto

Weathering Weathering may may change the change the aspect of a aspect of a crater crater drastically.drastically.


Identifying impact Identifying impact craterscratersSome volcanic features can Some volcanic features can

resemble impact craters, resemble impact craters, and brecciated rocks are and brecciated rocks are associated with other associated with other geological formations geological formations besides impact craters. besides impact craters.


Shocked Shocked polymictic polymictic breccia from breccia from the Azuara the Azuara impact impact structure, structure, Spain. Spain.

Dolomite Dolomite from the from the Wells Creek Wells Creek crater, USA. crater, USA.


Lunar cratersLunar craters


Craters on EarthCraters on Earth


Craters on MarsCraters on Mars



NASA


Project by

Proca Alexandra

&Cojocariu Andrada

Class a X-a DNational College Iasi

Documents

Craters and impacts in the Solar System National College Iasi