Why does the moon has "craters" and "pitted surfaces?"
2007-01-21 08:18:56 · 7 answers · asked by Gray Gabriel 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
All caused by meteoric impacts from long ago. Lack of erosion has caused them not to have changed their appearance.
2007-01-21 08:22:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the past asteroids and smaller meteoroids were more abundant and they struck the moon regularly. They also struck all the other bodies of the solar system, and most are covered with craters and pits.
The reason Earth has very few recognizable craters is not because it was not hit (it was) but because in a short (geological) time the resulting craters are either buried or eroded away.
2007-01-21 08:24:41 · answer #2 · answered by David A 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since the moon, unlike earth has no atmosphere it is unprotected from meteors. Meteors hitting earth burn up in the higher atmospheric layers and only tiny bits reach groung, if any at all.
In the moons case they just burn into the surface. Bamm! Crater!
2007-01-21 08:26:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no wind on the moon, so the craters are not eroded. The Earth would look much like the moon if it was not for our atmosphere.
2007-01-21 08:59:30 · answer #4 · answered by Tommyburke 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because in addition to having been placed in orbit around the earth to give us tides, ect, it is also there as a shield, those giant craters on the light side of the moon were caused by massive meteors, which would have hit us if the moon hadn't been there to catch them.
2007-01-21 08:25:49 · answer #5 · answered by otis the brave (luke 22:36) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Asteroids and other floating debris bombarding its surface of the course of millions of years. You would look pretty beat up too if you orbited around the earth.
2007-01-21 08:25:22 · answer #6 · answered by Waverly Pascale 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All caused by meteoric impacts from long ago. Lack of erosion has caused them not to have changed their appearance.
2007-01-21 11:16:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋