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Collisional Processes in the Solar System pp 1–34Cite as

Size-Frequency Distributions of Planetary Impact Craters and Asteroids

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Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 261))

Abstract

The size-frequency distributions (SFD) for projectiles which formed craters on terrestrial planets and asteroids Gaspra, Ida, and Mathilde are compared using modern cratering scaling laws. The result shows the relative stability of these distributions during the past 3.7 Gy (Orientale basin and younger formations). The derived projectile size-frequency distribution is compared with the size-frequency distribution of main-belt asteroids. The recent Spacewatch data demonstrate the spectacular similarity of the size distribution of asteroids with diameters larger than 1 km and the population of crater-forming projectiles derived from the cratering data. Consequently one can suppose that the efficiency of the new projectile delivery to planetary crossing orbits does not depend on asteroid size. The migration of large main belt bodies to Mars-crossing orbits or to resonances seems to play an important role in the generation of planet-crossing impactors.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Dynamics of Geospheres, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prospect 38/6, Moscow, Russia, 117939

    B. A. Ivanov

  2. DLR Institute for Planetary Exploration, Rudower Chaussee 5, Berlin, Germany

    G. Neukum & R. Wagner

Authors
  1. B. A. Ivanov
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  2. G. Neukum
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  3. R. Wagner
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Moscow, Russia

    Mikhail Ya. Marov

  2. Astronomical Observatory, Uppsala, Sweden

    Hans Rickman

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Ivanov, B.A., Neukum, G., Wagner, R. (2001). Size-Frequency Distributions of Planetary Impact Craters and Asteroids. In: Marov, M.Y., Rickman, H. (eds) Collisional Processes in the Solar System. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 261. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0712-2_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0712-2_1

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