Craters: Earth vs. Moon

MS-ESS2-2. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and spatial scales.

Learning Target

Compare and contrast features of the Earth and the moon.

Success Criteria

I can recognize how craters on the moon are similar to craters on Earth.
I can recognize how craters on the moon are different from craters on Earth.

from left to right: Ptolemaeus crater, Alphonsus crater, Alpetragios crater, and Arzachel crater

The lunar crater Alphonsus is about 3.9 billion years old. It is still clearly visible on the Moon's surface. The rim, ejecta, and floor of the crater are all clear. Though it is older than any crater found on Earth it's features are still intact and quite visible.

Wolfe Creek Crater

Location: North Central Australia

Diameter: 0.9 km

age: 300,000 years

Roter Kamm Crater

Location: Namibia

Diameter: 2.5 km

age: 3,700,000 years

Manicouagan Crater

Location: Quebec, Canada

Diameter: 70 km

age: 212,000,000 years

Compare

Many of the craters on the Moon are much older than the craters on Earth. Compare the Craters. What features of the craters are clearly visible on the Moon that are not visble on Earth?
Why do you think the craters on the Moon and craters on Earth look different? What processes on Earth are different from those on the Moon?
Why might it be easier to find craters on Earth using satellite images rather than pictures take from the ground?

Massive Crater in Greenland

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