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Ganymede - A relationship between thermal history and crater statisticsAn approach for factoring the effects of a planetary thermal history into a predicted set of crater statistics for an icy satellite is developed and forms the basis for subsequent data inversion studies. The key parameter is a thermal evolution-dependent critical time for which craters of a particular size forming earlier do not contribute to present-day statistics. An example is given for the satellite Ganymede and the effect of the thermal history is easily seen in the resulting predicted crater statistics. A preliminary comparison with the data, subject to the uncertainties in ice rheology and impact flux history, suggests a surface age of 3.8 x 10 to the 9th years and a radionuclide abundance of 0.3 times the chondritic value.
Document ID
19800067530
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Phillips, R. J.
(Lunar and Planetary Institute Houston, Tex., United States)
Malin, M. C.
(Arizona State University Tempe, Ariz., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
October 10, 1980
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Volume: 210
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
80A51700
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-100
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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