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Unlike the Earth, the moon does not have an atmosphere to help protect it from meteors. When meteors enter the Earth's atmosphere, the resistance of the air causes friction and generates a tremendous amount of heat - so much so that most meteors are destroyed before they reach the ground. The moon does not have an atmosphere and therefore there is nothing stopping meteorites from bombarding the surface. Hence, the large number of impact craters on the moon.

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Q: What is the moon lacking that would protect it from meteors?
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Where was maria on the moon formed?

The maria's on the moon were formed by meteors slamming into it.


What are craters on the moon and what caused them?

They were caused by meteors and meteoritesThat is my answer because in class I am learning this. If you go onto you tube and type in discovery channel, our moon or any other planet you want to learn about go ahead!


Why is the earth's surface not riddled with craters as is the moon?

The Earth has some craters, they are just rarer. The majority of meteors coming towards us disintegrate in the Earth's atmosphere (something the moon doesn't have), and the craters that are created by ones that get through are then subjected to winds, oceans, animals, foliage, all sorts of things that will make them less cratery. The moon doesn't have any of that, so any small meteoroid will hit it, and the crater stay there for a long, long time.


How will absence of moon affect us?

Hi.If the moon was absent we would be literally screwed. Since the moon controls the Earths tides, no moon equals the whole world flooded one big ball of water.


Does the moon and the earth both have craters?

Yes both bodies have craters but the Moon has many many more. That is because it has no protective atmosphere so that any old piece of rock of any size that hits the Moon will produce a crater (sometimes only a small one, other times a big one). The Earth's atmosphere causes all but the biggest meteors to burn up before they hit the ground, which means they have to be really large to cause any kind of crater. But the Earth has a few big craters.

Related questions

Why can't astronomers use a telescope to study the entire surface of the moon?

The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.The moon has no atmosphere, so there is nothing there to burn up the dust and dirt and ice and rocks, turning them into meteors, as happens on Earth. Meteors seen on Earth are so brief and fast and enclosed by the atmosphere, and so far from the Moon that you would not see Earth's meteors from the Moon.


Why would it be pointless taking an umbrella to the moon?

It only rains meteors on the moon. Try stopping a meteor with an umbrella.


Why do craters happen on the moon?

Meteors crash into the moon and leave the holes there


Why the moon has holes?

They're craters - made by meteors crashing on the moon


Where was maria on the moon formed?

The maria's on the moon were formed by meteors slamming into it.


How rough is the Moon's surface?

I would say, very rough since meteors and other things have crash onto the moon's surface, so it would be very rough


Do meteors hit the moon?

yes they do that is why there is craters


How did craters form from moon?

meteors hit them


How often do meteors hit the moon?

well the last 3 years there has been more than 5,000 meteors hit in the moon but now its been estimated to pass 1.2 millions smalls meteors so fast that mad a couple cracks on the moon


Why doses the moon have holes in it?

This is because meteors hit the moon and cause craters.


What were the moon craters created by?

the moon craters were created by asteroids and meteors. shocking!


Is there weathering erosion or deposition on the Moon?

There is deposition - from the impact of meteors colliding with the moon.