posted
I do not know much about velocity, but the surface regolith of the moon has a very thin layer of loose dust, Ie the footsteps. the rest is the same particles but very very compact. I would expect something so small travveling at such a high speed would enter like a bullet wound, releasing a large amount of particulate dust. I dont't think the shockwave would be that large. Perhaps similar to the small more recent pock mark craters on the moon that we see now.
Posts: 1888 | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
The crater in Arizona was made by a meteor about the size you described, your crater would be a lot bigger than 200 meters. Increase it by ten-fold. As far as the shock wave goes, their is no atmoshpere so a heat/percussion wave wouldn't be a factor. A seismic shockwave is another matter, and that would depend on how close to the impact you are. One thing you should consider is falling debris from the impact. The gravity is lighter so the fallout and range of falling rocks would be greater and a larger threat than a seismic shockwave.
Posts: 3072 | Registered: Dec 2007
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This site lets you amuse yourself by throwing meteorites at the earth: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/impacteffects/ It sounds sensible and authoritative, but information on the internet has been known to be incorrect
Folks seem less concerned by what happens when one hits the moon, but perhaps by playing with the parameters you might be able to come up with a fair approximation. The lack of atmosphere would probably make for some significant differences from this model, though.
Yeah I found that url when doing research but the part that I'm really lost on is just the mechanics. What really happens when something hits the moon.
With no atmosphere and fine soil does an impact on the moon look more like an atomic explosion filled with vertical chaos or an expanding ring of dust that loses intensity as it spreads outwards?
I googled for about an hour last night and didn't find anything relevant. Argh!
posted
I remember reading (don't know where, sorry) about a reference in the middle ages where there was a description of an impact on the moon that was visible (fireball) from earth with the naked eye--at least that is what I remember them saying.
Part of me thinks wasn't the Shoemaker-Levy Comet versus Jupiter the first recorded observation of a planetary strike? I think perhaps the moon thing was a modern interpretation of what someone described as a dragons on the moon or something.
posted
As I recall, some of the Apollo gear detected lunar impacts soon after the astronauts left...nothing large, apparently, but detectable nonetheless...
Posts: 8809 | Registered: Aug 2005
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I agree. Only one in 100,000 people may know what you are writing is b*ll*cks, although you can be sure they will write to you and tell you how wrong you are!
Posts: 2995 | Registered: Oct 2007
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quote: agree. Only one in 100,000 people may know what you are writing is b*ll*cks, although you can be sure they will write to you and tell you how wrong you are!
I have to disagree here. A lot of sf writers, fans (and some editors) have a science background. Not only do a lot of them know if you're writing bs--they post it on every forum. Just the way it got around about a certain very, very famous fantasy writer saying you could stick a staff under a horse's girth.
He had a few hundred people tell him he was stupid and then they told everyone else they could find. SF people are worse, much worse.
And yet, it's surprising how much one can find out about the latest thinking on a scientific subject using Google. Material on this particular topic, however, seems to be evasive. Maybe it's a military secret ;-)
I agree with halogen, I think the Return to Luna people will be critical. I imagine they'll know what the moon is made of and how that will impact, er, impact craters.
Mind, I don't know why I think they'll be critical--they want "Science Fiction stories that show the adventure of lunar settlement. We want to feel the romance of life there, the wonder of the lunar frontier, of its magnificent desolation." Sounds more like Fantasy than SF to me!
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