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Credit & Copyright: The Clementine Project
Explanation:
What is the largest known
impact crater in the Solar System?
Over 1300 miles across, the South Pole-Aitken
Basin on the farside
of Earth's Moon holds that distinction.
Circled above in a false color mosaic
of Clementine images it was caused when
an asteroid or
comet sized object
crashed into the surface, penetrating the lunar mantle.
In general, the rocky terrestrial planets and moons are scarred
and battered from frequent repeated bombardment by large objects during our
Solar System's early years.
On Earth, continuous geological activity
has hidden much of the damage,
but the surface of the smaller,
less active Moon bears testimony to a
shared history of fierce and frequent impacts.
At the present time in the vicinity of Earth,
the bombardment continues -
fortunately at
a greatly reduced rate.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: impact crater
Publications with words: impact crater
See also: