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The moon is hit by many more meteorites than Earth because it has no significant atmosphere to burn them up in. Also as the earths surface is continually changing, visible craters may be filled in, smoothed over or covered up.

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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.


Why are there relatively few craters in the maria of the moon?

The maria on the moon have fewer craters compared to the highlands because they are made of younger, solidified lava flows that have covered and filled in older cratered regions. The volcanic activity that created the maria also played a role in erasing or masking the older impact craters.


How do mountains or craters on the surfaces of the earth and the moon compare with each other?

The biggest difference is the craters on the moon erode at a much slower rate. Here on earth, it takes a few thousand years for a crater to fill in and become not much more than a valley. On the moon, the craters last until ejecta from newer craters fills the holes of the older craters. The mountains of the earth are covered with snow and below the timberline lie trees. There is no snow or trees on the moon. The mountains on the moon look a lot sharper and the rocks stand out because they're not covered in dust. The lunar mountains look much rounder and the entire surface of the moon is covered in a very thin layer of dust.


What evidence indicates that catastrophic impacts have occurred in the solar systems past?

Many impact craters are visible on many planets and satellites of planets. The moon is a perfect example, it is covered with craters, some of which we can see from Earth even without a telescope. We do have a few impact craters that have survived here on Earth, as well, even though the weather on Earth, over long periods of time, tends to smooth away craters.


Why have scientists found few impact craters on Earth?

Scientists have found few impact craters on Earth because the process of erosion, tectonic activity, and volcanic activity continuously reshapes the Earth's surface, gradually erasing evidence of past impacts. Additionally, Earth's active plate tectonics often recycle or cover up old craters. Lastly, the presence of water and atmospheric activity can also contribute to the degradation of impact structures over time.

Related Questions

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.


Why are there relatively few craters in the maria of the moon?

The maria on the moon have fewer craters compared to the highlands because they are made of younger, solidified lava flows that have covered and filled in older cratered regions. The volcanic activity that created the maria also played a role in erasing or masking the older impact craters.


Why do you see several impact craters on the earth but few on the moon?

There are relatively few craters identified on the surface of the Earth while there are thousands (millions) on the moon. It is hard to find one point on the moon that is not in one crater and there are craters in craters in craters. (See images in related link for Moon.) Obviously, the major reason behind this is that the craters that formed on the Earth eroded over time due to wind, rain and other natural factors which are nearly absent on the moon. Thus Earth's craters disappear over millions of years while the craters on the moon remain for billions of years. (The primary way a crater is made to disappear from the surface of the moon is by having another impact crater formed and the dust and debris from later impacts disturb or destroy or cover the original crater.)


Why do you think there are millions of impact craters on the moon and so few on Earth?

The Earth has had far more asteroid and meteorite impacts than the moon. Impact craters on Earth however are eroded by the atmosphere and water and also filled in by water and sediment. Since the moon has next to no atmosphere craters tend not to erode so they will always be visable.


Why does the moon has many craters but the Earth has few?

Earth is geologically active with volcanoes, tectonic plates, and has a substantial atmosphere, moving water, and glaciers. These forces are constantly changing Earth's surface. Impact craters get eroded, buried, and outright erased. The moon has no significant geologic activity, no atmosphere, and no water. As a result craters on the moon can remain almost untouched for billions of years.


How do mountains or craters on the surfaces of the earth and the moon compare with each other?

The biggest difference is the craters on the moon erode at a much slower rate. Here on earth, it takes a few thousand years for a crater to fill in and become not much more than a valley. On the moon, the craters last until ejecta from newer craters fills the holes of the older craters. The mountains of the earth are covered with snow and below the timberline lie trees. There is no snow or trees on the moon. The mountains on the moon look a lot sharper and the rocks stand out because they're not covered in dust. The lunar mountains look much rounder and the entire surface of the moon is covered in a very thin layer of dust.


Do craters cover most of the Earth?

No. Earth has relatively few impacts craters.


What is on the surfaces of moon?

There are craters on the surface of the moon


What does moon do for earth?

- lunar dust - craters - Astronauts footprints - American flag - probably a few leftover instuments, crashed probes etc.


Did the earth avoid flying space debris to avoid craters?

No. Earth has probably been hit by more space debris than the moon has. However, Earth has geologic processes that bury and destroy impact craters over time so that few of them are visible today.


Why does earth have so few visible craters?

Earth is a 'living' planet; its surface is always being changed by the processes of erosion and geological action. Those craters that still remain are either too big to be noticed specifically as craters without the right perspective or, as noted in the question, so few in number that they are a major rarity.


What evidence indicates that catastrophic impacts have occurred in the solar system?

Many impact craters are visible on many planets and satellites of planets. The moon is a perfect example, it is covered with craters, some of which we can see from Earth even without a telescope. We do have a few impact craters that have survived here on Earth, as well, even though the weather on Earth, over long periods of time, tends to smooth away craters.