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Earth is geologically active and has an atmosphere and water. The moon has none of these. The atmosphere protects Earth from smaller objects, but not from larger ones. When craters do form on Earth, wind water, and ice erode them away and often bury them in sediment. What is left of the craters may be destroyed by plate tectonics as rocks are folded, faulted, or sink into the mantle. Other than asteroids and comet impacts, the moon's surface has changed little since it first formed.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe Earth has a dense atmosphere that causes many meteors to burn up in the atmosphere so they never strike the ground. The moon does not, so every meteorite that is attracted strikes the surface and leaves a crater.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoEarth's atmosphere "burns up" meteors, etc.
Also, many of the impact craters on earth are covered by soil or rocks or other geological and by the oceans They have also suffered erosion from the water and the atmosphere over the years. This does not happen on the moon because there is no atmosphere.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThere are two reasons:
1) Fewer are created
Fewer meteors impact the Earth's surface because they burn up or explode in the atmosphere. Others will land in the water (most of Earth's surface) and will form fewer craters.
2) They get eroded away
For the ones big enough or dense enough to reach the ground, their craters are erased by erosion and plant growth in as little as a few years. The largest ones are erased by tectonics over a long period of time. Of the ones that persist, only a very small number are distinguishable as impact craters rather than volcanic features or dry lakes.
Friction caused by the Earth's atmosphere causes all incoming meteoroids to be broken apart before hitting the ground (kind of like an invisible sandpaper quickly wearing them away). The Moon, which has no atmosphere, is subject to impacts from all incoming meteoroids. It's not because the Earth gets hit less often, it's just because we are protected by our atmosphere.
Only a small percentage ever reach the surface, and most do not make huge, persistent craters. Even those craters that are made are mostly eroded away, or disguised by later geologic activity. The Moon has almost no erosive action, other than new impacts, so millions of impacts made over millions of years are mostly still visible on its surface.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThe consensus is that after the bombardment creating the craters Lave flows from volcanoes cover the maria.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThey are smooth because they were once liquid. A result of the lava flow from the volcanic eruptions that formed them.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoMars, unlike the Moon, has an atmosphere and strong winds which erode craters.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoBecause the earth intercepted or deflected a lot of the impacts that would have hit the near side of the moon.
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Does the moon have more craters than earth?
No. Earth has far fewer craters. Most that once existed on Earth have been eroded, buried, or otherwise destroyed by geologic activity.
Why are some areas of the moon smooth with no craters?
... as compared to Earth, I suppose. On Earth, the weather will remove most traces of craters rather quickly, in a few million years for large craters, in a fraction of a million years for smaller craters.... as compared to Earth, I suppose. On Earth, the weather will remove most traces of craters rather quickly, in a few million years for large craters, in a fraction of a million years for smaller craters.... as compared to Earth, I suppose. On Earth, the weather will remove most traces of craters rather quickly, in a few million years for large craters, in a fraction of a million years for smaller craters.... as compared to Earth, I suppose. On Earth, the weather will remove most traces of craters rather quickly, in a few million years for large craters, in a fraction of a million years for smaller craters.
Does the surface of moon and earth both have craters?
yes. there are more craters on the moon because no atmosphere protects it from meteors or meteorites, but both the moon and the earth have craters
Which side of the moon has more craters?
The "darkside" or the part of the Moon that does not face the Earth has the most craters.
Why do you see many impact craters on the moon but not earth?
The Earth has weather patterns that have eroded most of the craters on Earth. The moon has no weather, therefore no erosion.
Does the moon have more craters than earth?
No. Earth has far fewer craters. Most that once existed on Earth have been eroded, buried, or otherwise destroyed by geologic activity.
Who has more craters the earth or the moon?
there are more craters on the moon then on earth
Why are some areas of the moon smooth with no craters?
... as compared to Earth, I suppose. On Earth, the weather will remove most traces of craters rather quickly, in a few million years for large craters, in a fraction of a million years for smaller craters.... as compared to Earth, I suppose. On Earth, the weather will remove most traces of craters rather quickly, in a few million years for large craters, in a fraction of a million years for smaller craters.... as compared to Earth, I suppose. On Earth, the weather will remove most traces of craters rather quickly, in a few million years for large craters, in a fraction of a million years for smaller craters.... as compared to Earth, I suppose. On Earth, the weather will remove most traces of craters rather quickly, in a few million years for large craters, in a fraction of a million years for smaller craters.
Does the surface of moon and earth both have craters?
yes. there are more craters on the moon because no atmosphere protects it from meteors or meteorites, but both the moon and the earth have craters
Why are craters preserved on the moon but not on earth?
Earth is geologically active and has wind and water to erode craters. The moon is geologically dead and has no atmosphere and thus no erosion. There is nothing on the moon to destroy impact craters.
Which side of the moon has more craters?
The "darkside" or the part of the Moon that does not face the Earth has the most craters.
What landforms do the earth and moon have?
Craters
Why do you see many impact craters on the moon but not earth?
The Earth has weather patterns that have eroded most of the craters on Earth. The moon has no weather, therefore no erosion.
What is the main reason that impact craters on the Moon last much longer than impact craters on earth?
Impact craters on the moon have no water/weather to erode the craters away, but on Earth the erosion erases the craters over time.
Are impact craters larger on the earth or moon?
On average the craters on Moon are larger than the Earth's because the Moon has no atmosphere to shield from impactors and no weathering processes.
Why do moon craters remain visible longer than earth craters?
There is no significant amount of erosion on the Moon.
Is mercury and the moon covered with craters on the surfaces?
Yes, Mercury and the Earth's moon are covered with craters on the surfaces
