ricktom Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Hello everyone I really enjoy the photographs of the moon that members take and I think it's amazing the details I can see with my telescope but I was wondering why the craters that I can see all are what I think I would call direct hit craters and not long shallow impacts such as there might be if something hits the moon at a low angle for example, would this be because the moon has never had an atmosphere So there is nothing to slow anything down that hits the moon. Hope this makes sense. Enjoy the forum ( I still have no idea what some of the things you talk about are though) Regards Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 You hit the nail on the head, that (as far as I know!) is correct Cheers Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perkil8r Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Yes, pretty much right there. There are some Rays though such as from Tycho where big lumps have been shot across the surface pretty much scraping a channel as it shoots across the Moon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldfruit Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) There are some rare examples of long shallow craters where objects have struck the moon at a shallow angle. I have just looked it up, oblique impact craters is the technical name. You may find this page of interest? http://the-moon.wikispaces.com/Oblique+Impact+Craters Edited September 19, 2014 by oldfruit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 That's a good question, I can see what you mean that there is a lack of trench like impacts. Again, a good find by Mark which indicates it's more the energy involved rather than the angle of impact. I always thought that Vallis Alpes might be a large shallow impact, but it turns out to be a geological feature. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vallis_Alpes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Been thinking about this and here is my tuppence worth. Probably completely wrong The chances of an object say 10m across hitting an object the size of the moon at such an oblique angle as to cause a 'trench' is so small it is minuet. The craters are formed when the impacting object slows down enough to transfer its energy into the Moon's surface causing an 'explosion' at this point the resulting crater will erase any evidence of impact angle. Discuss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perkil8r Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 The lack of atmosphere means that anything incoming doesn't shed it's velocity as it does with Earth, thus more energy is conserved and then delivered to the impact. This could actually be quite a good topic for discussion with some of our GCSE Astro and Physics students, might get them thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 The lack of atmosphere would surely then prevent the object from deflecting off its course and lessening the impact angle. ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricktom Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 Hi everyone Many thanks for the replies it will give me something to think about next time I can get to see the moon, thanks to people for the links as well. Regards Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MichaelDurban Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 (edited) I'm still looking for an area called " Mare De Elusivitas" (Sea of elusivity) Can't find it for some strange reason... Edited September 20, 2014 by MichaelDurban Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MichaelDurban Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 It's supposed to be in close proximity of 'Mare Absensis' ..which, for some strange reason seems to elude me.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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