Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Impact cratering and break up of the small bodies of the Solar System

Leliwa-Kopystynski, Jacek, Burchell, Mark J., Lowen, D. (2008) Impact cratering and break up of the small bodies of the Solar System. Icarus, 195 (2). pp. 817-826. ISSN 0019-1035. (doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.02.010) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:15769)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2008.02.010

Abstract

We consider the largest impact craters observed on small satellites and asteroids and the impact disruption of such bodies. Observational data are considered from 21 impact-like structures on 13 satellites and 8 asteroids (target body radii in the range 0.7-265 km). If the radius of the target body is R and the diameter of the largest crater observed on this body D, the ratio D/R is then the main observational parameter of interest. This is found on the observed bodies and compared to data obtained in the laboratory. Taking the largest observed value for D/R as a proxy for the ratio D-C/R (where D-C is the diameter of the largest crater that can be formed on a body without shattering it) it was found that for the observed icy satellites D-C,D-icy approximate to 1.2R and for the asteroids and the rocky satellites D-C,D-rocky approximate to 1.6R. In laboratory experiments with ice targets at impactor speeds of 1 to 3 km s(-1) we obtained D-C,D-icy approximate to 1.64R.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.icarus.2008.02.010
Uncontrolled keywords: asteroids; collisional physics; impact processes; asteroids, surfaces; satellites, surfaces
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Jane Griffiths
Date Deposited: 26 Mar 2009 16:06 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:53 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/15769 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.