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Microcraters on lunar samplesThe lunar microcrater phenomenology is described. The morphology of the lunar craters is in almost all aspects simulated in laboratory experiments in the diameter range from less than 1 nu to several millimeters and up to 60 km/s impact velocity. An empirically derived formula is given for the conversion of crater diameters into projectile diameters and masses for given impact velocities and projectile and target densities. The production size frequency distribution for lunar craters in the crater size range from approximately 1 nu to several millimeters in diameter is derived from various microcrater measurements within a factor of up to 5. Particle track exposure age measurements for a variety of lunar samples have been performed. They allow the conversion of the lunar crater size frequency production distributions into particle fluxes. The development of crater populations on lunar rocks under self-destruction by subsequent meteoroid impacts and crater overlap is discussed and theoretically described. Erosion rates on lunar rocks on the order of several millimeters per 10 yr are calculated. Chemical investigations of the glass linings of lunar craters yield clear evidence of admixture of projectile material only in one case, where the remnants of an iron-nickel micrometeorite have been identified.
Document ID
19780005021
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Fechtig, H. (Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Gentner, W. (Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Hartung, J. B. (Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Nagel, K. (Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Neukum, G. (Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Schneider, E. (Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Storzer, D. (Musee Natl. d'Histoire Naturelle Paris, United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1977
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Washington The Soviet-Am. Conf. on Cosmochem. of the Moon and Planets, Pt. 2
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
78N12964
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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IDRelationTitle19780005015Collected WorksThe Soviet-American Conference on Cosmochemistry of the Moon and Planets, Part 2
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