Impact Crater

An impact crater is a hollow, bowl-shaped depression on a celestial surface formed by the collision of a meteoroid, asteroid, or comet with that surface. The impact generates a significant release of energy, resulting in explosive processes that can excavate large amounts of material, creating a crater. The size of the impact crater varies widely, ranging from small pockmarks to massive structures several kilometers in diameter. The features of an impact crater typically include raised rims, a flat floor, and often secondary craters formed from debris ejected during the impact. Studying impact craters provides valuable insights into the history of planetary surfaces, geological processes, and the frequency of impacts in the solar system.