Internet Encyclopedia of Science
CRATERS
GEOLOGY & PLANETARY SCIENCE
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

                   HOME
ABOUT
CATEGORIES
COPYRIGHT
NEWSLETTER

  



secondary crater



A small crater formed by ejecta thrown out of a larger impact crater. Secondary craters tend to cluster in a ring around the main crater, the greatest number lying a bit more than one crater diameter away on the Moon, but closer on Mercury because of the higher surface gravity. Ejecta falling near to the main crater tends to be moving too slowly to form craters but instead piles up as an ejecta blanket.


Related categories

   • CRATERS
   • GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE


Also on this site:

Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History



BACK TO TOP