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An impact crater is a depression in the surface of a solid astronomical body formed by the hypervelocity impact of a smaller object. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal collapse, [2] impact craters typically have raised rims and floors that are lower in elevation than the surrounding terrain. [3]
crater wall, the downward-sloping portion of the crater crater floor, a more or less smooth, flat area, which as it ages accumulates small craters of its own central peak, found only in some craters with a diameter exceeding 26 km (16 mi); this is generally a splash effect caused by the kinetic energy of the impacting object being turned to ...
A volcanic crater is a bowl-shaped depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity, usually located above the volcano's vent. [11] During volcanic eruptions, molten magma and volcanic gases rise from an underground magma chamber, through a conduit, until they reach the crater's vent, from where the gases escape into the atmosphere and the magma is erupted as lava.
This is a list of officially named craters in the Solar System as named by IAU's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature.As of 2017, there is a total of 5,223 craters on 40 astronomical bodies, which includes minor planets (asteroids and dwarf planets), planets, and natural satellites. [1]
Compared to other bodies in our Solar System, Earth's moon isn't particularly huge. However, its relatively small size belies one of its most interesting features, which is a colossal crater ...
Crater morphology provides information about the physical structure and composition of the surface. Impact craters allow us to look deep below the surface and into Mars geological past. Lobate ejecta blankets (pictured left) and central pit craters are common on Mars but uncommon on the Moon , which may indicate the presence of near-surface ...
Following are the largest impact craters on various worlds of the Solar System.For a full list of named craters, see List of craters in the Solar System.The ratio column compares the crater diameter with the diameter of the impacted celestial body.
At Cap d’Erquy, along the northern coast of France, the satellite system picked up on potential structures buried into a crater, according to the release, and the researchers took a closer look.