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
Learning Target
- Compare and contrast features of the Earth and the moon.
Success Criteria
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
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?