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For all practical purposes, the answer is no. The moon provides the Earth with no significant protection from impacts from meteorites, asteroids or comets.
The Moon isn't nearly the same size as the Earth and occupies a tiny fraction of the perimeter of the planet. It's the atmosphere that protects us from small asteroids; they burn up most of the time before they reach the ground. Some are deflected (bounce off) the atmosphere if they hit at a shallow angle. These can appear as fireballs that cross the sky.
For protection, one needs a much larger body that has enough mass to significantly alter the trajectory of an incoming object. There is some evidence that Jupiter has such an effect on objects entering the solar system, but even then one cannot expect that more than a tiny fraction of incoming comets or other objects might be captured or otherwise redirected. Of course, a redirected comet might, by chance, be directed towards a collision as well as away from one.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoNo. An asteroid can get captured by an asteroid and become a moon, but not the moon. Our moon is too large to be considered an asteroid.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoYes, because it doesn't have an atmosphere to protect it's surface being hit by meteors unlike Earth.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoYes, some of the lunar craters were caused by asteroids. The moon is the earth's vacuum cleaner. It picks up space debris before it can hit the earth.
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What are craters on the moon and Mars?
the craters on the moon and mars are from asteroids bumping into it.
What is the name of the things that hit the moon to make the craters?
The craters on the moon were formed by the impacts of asteroids and comets.
The craters on the surface of earths moon were produced by what?
By meteors/asteroids crashing into the Moon.
Are holes in the planets made by asteroids?
If you mean craters then yes. Most craters are caused by impacts from asteroids or comets. Some craters, however, are volcanic.
How were the craters on the moon made?
Craters happen when meteorites impact on the Moon's surface. Most of the craters on the Moon are billions of years old, the impacts were much more common during the early stages of the solar system's formation. There are craters on the Earth's surface as well. They are just harder to see, because the surface of the Earth changes faster because we have an atmosphere and erosion.
What are craters on the moon and Mars?
the craters on the moon and mars are from asteroids bumping into it.
What were the moon craters created by?
the moon craters were created by asteroids and meteors. shocking!
Why does the moon has craters?
The moon has craters because asteroids have crashed into the mass and have put dents into it.
What is moon craters?
The moon's craters are impact craters, formed by collisions of interplanetary debris (asteroids, comets, etc.) with the surface of the moon.
What are the dents in the moon?
The "dents" on the surface of the moon are craters. The craters were created by asteroids and meteors that crashed into the moon's surface.
What is the name of the things that hit the moon to make the craters?
The craters on the moon were formed by the impacts of asteroids and comets.
What happens to asteroids that make craters on the Moon?
The asteroids are destroyed on impact and their material becomes part of the Moon.
Does earth has any craters?
yes the moon has lots of craters from asteroids and other metoers
How do moon craters form on the moon?
They are formed by asteroids and meteorites crashing into the surface of the moon
The craters on the surface of earths moon were produced by what?
By meteors/asteroids crashing into the Moon.
What caused the hills lines and craters on the moon?
Asteroids and comets sometimes crashes in to the moon and causes craters, hills, and lines.
What could cause craters on the surface of the moon or planet?
The craters are caused by impacts from asteroids and comets.
