Articles tagged with Impact Features
Researchers have developed a new technique to analyze spherules embedded in rock layers, providing precise information about asteroids impacting Earth between 3.5 billion and 35 million years ago. The findings support a theory that the early Earth endured an intense period of asteroid bombardment.
Scientists discovered tiny organisms thriving deep beneath a US asteroid impact site, supporting the idea that crater environments can harbor microbes. The researchers believe similar conditions exist on Mars, with drilling beneath craters potentially uncovering signs of life.
Space scientists have quantified galactic cosmic ray bombardment on the moon's surface, causing chemical changes in water ice and regolith. This radiation process creates complex organic molecules and darkens lunar soil, providing insight into the geologic history of the moon.
Two new NASA LRO videos reveal the moon's evolutionary history, exploring how it came to appear today. The 'Evolution of the Moon' video explains the moon's formation from a giant ball of magma and its subsequent impact that formed the South Pole-Aitken Basin.
Researchers found that the Moon's synchronous rotation with Earth is due to its geophysical properties, not a result of chance. The near side of the Moon resembles the Man in the Moon due to volcanic material, while the far side has higher mountainous regions.
A team of researchers from Harvard and MIT suggests that massive asteroid collision is responsible for the Moon's magnetic anomalies. The anomaly is found around the rim of a 2,400-kilometer-diameter crater known as South Pole-Aitken.
The average global temperatures and illumination models suggest that roughly half of Vesta's surface is cold and dark enough for water ice to survive. The polar regions are thought to be favorable for water ice existence, but may be buried beneath a layer of dry regolith.
Geologists have determined that Death Valley's Ubehebe Crater was created just 800 years ago and still has enough groundwater and magma to potentially produce another eruption. The crater, which formed from a phreatomagmatic explosion, may be due for another blast in the near future.
A team of researchers led by an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona has discovered that meteorite shockwaves trigger massive dust avalanches on Mars. The study found that shockwaves preceding the actual impact cause dust avalanches, revealing a new way impacts shape the planet's surface.
Despite fears, there's no evidence a supereruption is imminent; supervolcanoes are exceedingly rare and occur in clusters. Scientists closely monitor volcanically active areas, and there's no sign of a looming eruption.
Egyptian fruit bats use an internal map to locate individual trees based on visual landmarks like lights or hills. The bats can bypass familiar trees to reach their favorite feeding site, suggesting a large-scale navigational mechanism beyond simple visual cues.
The LRO spacecraft captured a dramatic sunrise view of Tycho crater's central peak, revealing distinctive outcrops and boulders formed through impact melt. The young crater, only 110 million years old, has steep slopes that will erode over time, potentially creating smooth mountains.
Researchers create comprehensive maps of the moon's slopes and roughness, revealing insights into crater formation and volcanic activity. The study provides clues about the impact processes that shaped the moon's surface over billions of years.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is producing the most accurate and complete map of the moon's complex landscape, revealing contours and slopes with precision. The dataset is being used to study lunar processes, including crater density and resurfacing, as well as the formation of multi-ring basins.
Scientists discovered a crater formed by a NASA-engineered collision that showed the Moon's soil contains more complex compounds than previously believed. The study found water, hydroxyl, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, free sodium, and silver in the lunar regolith.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's LAMP instrument has detected hydrogen, carbon monoxide, atomic mercury, calcium, and magnesium in the LCROSS impact plume, revealing volatile substances trapped near the Moon's poles. This finding is crucial for planning robotic and manned Moon bases.
Researchers detected large areas of water ice in the lunar south pole using NASA's Diviner instrument. This discovery suggests that these regions are suitable for future human missions, as subsurface water ice is more stable and protected from radiation.
Researchers created a comprehensive catalog of large craters on the moon to study the chaotic early days of the inner solar system. The analysis suggests that larger projectiles dominated the bombardment, ending around 3.8 billion years ago.
The moon was bombarded by two distinct populations of asteroids or comets in its youth, resulting in a more complex surface than previously thought. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft provided unprecedented global topographic maps using the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA), highlighting lunar craters with clarity.
Researchers have discovered previously unseen compositional differences in the moon's crustal highlands and confirmed the presence of material surprisingly abundant in silica. This has provided scientists with global, high-resolution infrared maps of the moon, enabling them to identify silicates commonly found within its crust.
Newly discovered cliffs on the moon indicate that it shrank globally in the geologically recent past and might still be shrinking. The cliffs, called lobate scarps, are relatively young and have a semi-circular or lobe-shaped appearance.
New research suggests that liquid water existed all over Mars during its early history, with studies of minerals found in craters revealing a global alteration by water. The discovery provides clues about the planet's potential habitability and suggests sites for future landers.
Scientists confirm asteroid ended the age of dinosaurs through a review of geological evidence, including the Chicxulub crater. The research group rejects an alternate hypothesis that long-term volcanic activity caused mass extinctions.
Researchers found that solar wind flowing over lunar polar craters creates a complex electrical environment, affecting surface chemistry and dust cling. The team's calculations reveal that the inside walls and floor acquire a negative electric charge due to electron-ion separation, posing challenges for future exploration.
Research papers published in Geophysical Research Letters reveal changing precipitation patterns in Europe, increased gully activity on Mars indicating liquid water, and thick water ice observed in lunar craters near the Moon's north pole. These findings suggest potential impacts on flooding and climate change.
Cassini collected temperature map data that shows hot regions resembling 'Pac-Man' eating a dot and striking bands of light and dark in crater walls. Surface texture variations are suspected to be the cause, with denser ice conducting heat away from the surface.
Asteroid impacts over billions of years have left the Moon with a pockmarked surface, but a new crater may expose a portion of the lower crust. The Apollo Basin, formed by a smaller asteroid impact, measures 300 miles across and is believed to reveal the lunar crust's early history.
A recent study examines sediments from the Chicxulub impact crater, finding evidence supporting K-T mass extinction theories. Another study investigates the formation of dikes in volcanic eruptions, shedding light on magmatic overpressure and eruption hazards.
New data provides conclusive evidence that a link between the exploration well and the Lusi mud volcano was the trigger for the 2006 eruption. The scientists found five critical drilling errors that led to the disaster, including pulling the drill string out of an unstable hole without verifying a stable mud column.
This article highlights new findings on late Cenozoic deformation in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, an important structure in the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone. The study also reports on a crucial upper age bound for the disappearance of the North Tian Shan Ocean and collision between the Yili and Junggar blocks in western China.
The January-February 2010 GSA Bulletin features studies on the kinematic evolution of curved mountain belts, including a paleomagnetic study of the Sevier thrust belt. The issue also covers the Sudbury impact crater in Michigan, USA, and GIS assessments of post-fire debris-flow hazards in central Idaho.
A massive impact crater off the coast of India is being studied as a potential cause of the mass extinction event that led to the demise of the dinosaurs. The Shiva basin, located in western India, is believed to have been created by an object at least 40 kilometers in diameter.
Scientists aim to detect hydrogen in lunar soil, which may be icy leftovers or accumulated from the solar wind. The LCROSS mission will create a debris cloud near the moon's south pole to observe its behavior.
Researchers using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have detected sub-surface water ice at high latitudes of Mars, with some areas showing ice purity of up to 99%. The ice is believed to be a relic of a more humid climate on Mars in the recent past and could provide insights into the planet's history.
The LROC camera system has taken its first images of the Moon, revealing detailed topography and subtle features. The instrument is performing exceptionally well, with a resolution of approximately 1.4-meters/pixel, and will soon begin mapping the lunar surface at 50-cm/pixel.
The rover Opportunity has revealed new insights into Mars' geologic history, including the presence of hematite spheres, sulfate-rich sandstone, and minerals commonly found in meteorites. The data supports previous findings that water once flowed on Mars' surface, with a likely underground source.
A recent study by Brown University researchers has found a gully fan system on Mars that formed about 1.25 million years ago, indicating melt water from nearby snow and ice deposits. The discovery extends the time water may have been active on Mars, adding to evidence of a recent ice age.
A new lunar map created at unprecedented 15-kilometer resolution confirms very little water on the Moon, even deep in its interior. The discovery could shed light on water on other planets like Mars.
Scientists analyzed East/Japan Sea CO2 uptake, finding a surprising drop in recent years. Simulations also suggest large raindrops favor tornado formation. Remotely sensed dune celerity revealed the world's fastest moving dunes, while Martian craters indicate hidden ice deposits.
A team of astrophysicists has discovered that hydrogen is concentrated in permanently shaded lunar craters, which could indicate the presence of ice. This finding is significant for future human exploration of the moon and could provide a water source for establishing a manned base.
Researchers from University of Alaska Fairbanks present research on planetary landscapes using computer models and satellite images. The team also explores new tools to support countries' claims to resources and collaborates with Google on K-12 outreach and education initiatives.
Researchers at Caltech identified layered rock outcrops on Mars indicating regular climate change due to planetary tilt variations. The layers suggest that Mars experienced cyclical climate changes similar to those on Earth, which were driven by variations in the planet's obliquity.
A researcher has discovered a tool that can reveal hundreds of hidden meteorite craters using aerial forest surveys. The technology was tested on a crater near Whitecourt, Alberta, and shows great potential for finding more undiscovered sites globally.
Philip R. Christensen, Regents' Professor of Geological Sciences at ASU, has been awarded the G.K. Gilbert Award for his work on remote sensing of minerals on Mars using infrared instruments. The award recognizes his discoveries, including a large deposit of hematite and silica minerals, which may offer clues about a Martian biosphere.
Researchers found that excessive groundwater withdrawal in Iran has led to significant land subsidence, causing destruction of aquifers. The study also suggests that future climate change will exacerbate this issue, highlighting the need for effective water resource management.
Researchers used computer models to simulate processes forming valley networks, finding evidence for liquid water stability at the Martian surface for tens of thousands of years. The study suggests episodic flooding alternated with long dry periods, contradicting alternative theories.
Researchers found that Martian gullies resemble those in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys, formed as recently as a few hundred thousand years ago. The study suggests changes in snow accumulation and glaciation are linked to Mars' spin obliquity, indicating dynamic climate change on the planet.
Researchers found evidence of a water-rich environment in ancient southern highlands of Mars, with phyllosilicate deposits indicating low-temperature mineral formation. The team's discovery suggests a benign, habitable environment during the Noachian period.
A new study suggests that water on the Moon's surface came from volcanic eruptions over 3 billion years ago, rather than vaporization during its formation. Researchers used advanced techniques to detect tiny amounts of water in lunar samples, revealing a significant amount of water in glass beads.
Researchers from Brown University have discovered evidence of past volcanic activity on Mercury, suggesting that the planet underwent intense changes to its landscape around 3-4 billion years ago. The findings were made possible by detailed images from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft and provide new insights into Mercury's geologic history.
Scientists at Caltech used computer modeling to demonstrate that the Mars dichotomy can be explained by one giant impact early in the planet's history. The study found that an impact energy of around 10^29 joules, equivalent to 100 billion gigatons of TNT, would have created the lowlands and highlands on Mars.
Scientists have discovered a new tool for reconstructing planetary origins using iron isotopes in lava samples from the Kilauea Iki crater. The findings contradict previous views on isotopic variations and provide evidence for a giant collision between Earth and another large object to form the moon.
Brown University professor Peter Schultz presents findings from Peruvian meteorite research, discovering a 49-foot-wide crater and planar deformation features indicating the meteorite maintained high speed during atmospheric entry. The study's implications for Mars craters and extraterrestrial object sizes challenge conventional wisdom.
Scientists have discovered a possible once-habitable ancient lake on Mars using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The image of Holden crater shows layers of fine sediments and minerals that formed in the presence of water, suggesting quiescent conditions that may preserve signatures of past habitability.
Researchers have reproduced Mars fan formations in a laboratory setting, suggesting brief releases of water from the planet's interior. The findings indicate that stepped fans on Mars were formed by rapid water release, rather than long-term erosion, and would require significant amounts of water.
New seismic images of the Chicxulub crater suggest the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs landed in deeper water than previously thought. This led to a larger release of water vapor into the atmosphere, which could have exacerbated the effects of acid rain and climate change.
Cornell researchers have discovered silica-rich deposits in Spirit's wake on Mars, providing new evidence for a once-habitable environment. These findings are significant as they suggest a 'local habitable niche' on the planet's surface, supporting microbial life-like conditions.
Scientists using the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer instrument have observed fluctuations in argon composition of the Martian atmosphere. The study reveals a constant change in the ratio of argon to carbon dioxide as winter sets in at one of the poles, indicating mixing between polar air and tropics.
Scientists on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission found evidence of long-past explosive volcanic activity at Home Plate, a plateau in Gusev Crater. The data collected by the rover supports earlier findings that water once existed at or beneath the planet's surface.
Researchers at Brown University have found evidence of recent volcanic gas release from the moon's surface, with features like the Ina structure dating back to two million years. The discovery suggests the moon is geologically active beyond its three billion-year history.