Planetary process

Impact Cratering History

The record of impacts written across a planet's surface, and the way it is read: because craters accumulate over time, a more heavily cratered surface is older. Counting craters is the main way the ages of surfaces across the Solar System are estimated.

Highlights

›Dating a surface by counting its craters

Mercury
Mars
Crust

Knowledge connections

Associated withMercury
Associated withMars
Associated withCrust

Sources

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.

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Impact Cratering History

Highlights

Worlds, layers & processes

Knowledge connections

Sources

Impact Cratering History

Highlights

Worlds, layers & processes

Knowledge connections

Sources