Planetary Impact Cratering Theory

Planetary impact cratering theory explains how craters form when meteoroids, asteroids, or comets collide with a planet or moon. The impacting object's high speed releases enormous energy, creating a shockwave that excavates a round cavity— the crater— by displacing and melting surface material. This process depends on the size, speed, and angle of the impact, as well as the planet's surface composition. Impact cratering helps scientists study planetary histories, surface ages, and the solar system's evolution by analyzing crater sizes, shapes, and distributions across different celestial bodies.