Impact Cratering: A Critical Jovian Icy Moons Science ObjectiveImpact craters perform two vital functions in planetary history and evolution. They date the surface. They probe the interior. Voyager and Galileo based studies reveal that impact crater morphology is fundamentally different on icy and rocky bodies. Also, differences have been discovered among the icy satellites that are probably related to thermal state of the ice shell. Much of this is related to the strong temperature dependence of ice rheology on temperature, and the much weaker strength of ices in general. Depth diameter studies of impact craters show very clear breaks associated with morphologic transitions. In fact, some larger craters appear to be shallower than smaller craters. These transitions may be related to rheologic transitions at depth within the outer icy shells. Unfortunately, only a few of the larger impact craters can be mapped topographically and some of these were not observed at high resolution. It is therefore highly desirable to determine the shapes of larger impact features on these satellites.
Document ID
20030066020
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Schenk, P. M. (Lunar and Planetary Inst. Houston, TX, United States)
Moore, J. M. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: Forum on Concepts and Approaches for Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter