A smack in the ice

in science •  6 years ago  (edited)

A high speed collision with an ice moon still has the same result.

One big splat, but they don't last as long as can be seen from the absence of any other prominent craters.

They are quickly obliterated as the ice surface of Europa is constantly rejuvenated although on a geological time frame.

In this picture fractures are already beginning to appear in the craters radiation area due to tidal flexing of the upper ice surfaces.

Snip taken from.

Europa-moon-with-margins.jpg
By NASA/JPL/DLR - Derivative of File:Europa-moon.jpg, Public Domain, Link

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It's astonishing how beautiful it is.