Impact cratering is the process by which hypervelocity collisions of extraterrestrial bodies (e.g., asteroids, comets, meteoroids) with a planetary surface excavate material and form characteristic circular depressions. It involves three main stages: contact and compression, where shock waves propagate and generate extreme pressures and temperatures; excavation, during which target material is displaced outward and upward, forming a transient cavity and ejecta; and modification, where gravitational collapse and rock rheology reshape the transient cavity into a final crater morphology. Impact cratering is a fundamental geologic process that influences crustal structure, surface evolution, and volatile redistribution on solid bodies throughout the Solar System.
To understand how chaotic the early solar system was, we need only gaze at the moon. Its cratered surface bears the scars of multitudes of collisions. The early solar system was like a debris field where objects smashed into ...
Planetary Sciences
May 8, 2025
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Comets that have hit Earth have been a mixed bag. Early in Earth's history, during the solar system's chaotic beginning, they were likely the source of our planet's water, ultimately making up about 0.02% of the planet's ...
We've discovered that a meteorite struck northwest Scotland 1 billion years ago, 200 million years later than previously thought. Our results are published today in the journal Geology.
Earth Sciences
Apr 29, 2025
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New Curtin University research has revealed that a massive meteorite struck northwestern Scotland about 200 million years later than previously thought, in a discovery that not only rewrites Scotland's geological history ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 29, 2025
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NASA's Artemis campaign will use human landing systems, provided by SpaceX and Blue Origin, to safely transport crew to and from the surface of the moon, in preparation for future crewed missions to Mars. As the landers touch ...
Space Exploration
Apr 25, 2025
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Carbon-containing meteorites look like they had less severe impacts than those without carbon because the evidence was blasted into space by gases produced during the impact. The Kobe University discovery not only solves ...
Planetary Sciences
Apr 24, 2025
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Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is a fascinating world that is unique among moons of the outer solar system. It's shrouded in a thick, hazy atmosphere rich in nitrogen and methane and it's the only moon with a substantial atmosphere ...
Planetary Sciences
Apr 15, 2025
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Scientists with NASA's Perseverance rover are exploring what they consider a veritable Martian cornucopia full of intriguing rocky outcrops on the rim of Jezero Crater. Studying rocks, boulders, and outcrops helps scientists ...
Planetary Sciences
Apr 10, 2025
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About 66 million years ago, an asteroid slammed into the planet, wiping out all non-avian dinosaurs and about 70% of all marine species.
Earth Sciences
Apr 8, 2025
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A huge asteroid that was briefly feared to strike Earth now has a nearly 4% chance of smashing into the moon, according to new data from the James Webb Space Telescope.
Space Exploration
Apr 3, 2025
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