Interpreting the cratering record - Mercury to Ganymede and CallistoA first analysis is presented of what the Galilean satellites' crater production function is, along with some interpretations of the conclusion. The basic premise is that the larger crater population of the lunar highlands is not at saturation density. The saturation issue is addressed, showing why the concept of saturation of lunar highlands can no longer be regarded as the best hypothesis, at least for large craters. The cratering records of Mars, Mercury, and the moon are reviewed and synthesized, and crater characteristics and statistics for Callisto and Ganymede are discussed and interpreted. It is shown that even the very densely cratered lunar highlands still retain considerable information about their production function; that remarkable similarities exist among the cratering histories of all of the terrestrial planets, both in terms of their production functions and of their total crater densities; and that the Gallilean satellites seem to have experienced quite a different impact history from that of the terrestrial planets.
Document ID
19830035016
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - Collected Works
Authors
Woronow, A. (Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Strom, R. G. (Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Gurnis, M. (Arizona, University Tucson, AZ, United States)