answersLogoWhite

0

They do, but extremely slowly. There is no atmosphere or liquid water on the Moon, meaning no wind, rivers, waves, or blowing dust to erode the craters. There is also no volcanic activity or tectonic action to erase them as on Earth.

Many more craters have been obliterated by subsequent impacts than by slowly crumbling away. Some craters are hundreds of millions of years old, and have many smaller craters within them.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Astronomy

Why don't the craters on the moon eventually erode away?

They do, but very slowly. There is no atmosphere or liquid water on the Moon, meaning no wind, waves, or blowing dust to erode the craters. There is also no volcanic activity or tectonic action to erase them as on Earth. Many more craters have been obliterated by subsequent impacts than by slowly crumbling away. Some craters are hundreds of millions of years old.


Why can we see the craters of the moon so clearly from earth?

We can see the craters of the moon clearly from Earth because the moon has no atmosphere to erode them, so they remain preserved. When the sun shines on the moon's surface at an angle, it creates long shadows that make the craters stand out more prominently, enhancing their visibility from Earth.


Why do craters last a million years on the moon?

They last much longer than that. Some of the moon's craters are billions of years old. They last so long because there is nothing to erase them. Earth has wind, water glaciers, volcanoes, and tectonic plates to bury, erode, and erase craters. The moon has none of these processes. Some refer to the moon as geologically dead.


What are the holes in the moon called?

I think there are called craters. I thinks so dont take my word for it.


Why do craters last for millions of years on the moon?

Craters last for millions of years on the Moon because there is no atmosphere to erode them. On Earth, weathering processes like wind and water can slowly wear away craters, but on the Moon, the lack of atmosphere means that craters remain relatively unchanged for long periods of time. Additionally, the Moon's surface experiences very slow geological processes, further preserving these features.

Related Questions

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.


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.


Why don't the craters on the moon eventually erode away?

They do, but very slowly. There is no atmosphere or liquid water on the Moon, meaning no wind, waves, or blowing dust to erode the craters. There is also no volcanic activity or tectonic action to erase them as on Earth. Many more craters have been obliterated by subsequent impacts than by slowly crumbling away. Some craters are hundreds of millions of years old.


Why have old craters on the moon not been erased as similar craters on earth have been?

The moon has no atmosphere, liquid water, or plate tectonics and little volcanic activity or bury, erode, and southwester destroy impact craters.


Why can THEY still see craters on the moon?

Anyone can see craters on the moon. All you have to do is look at it when it's in the sky. There are billions of craters on the lunar surface with more being added almost daily. There will always be craters on the moon because there is no atmosphere to erode them. The lunar craters only form of erosion is from solar bombardment and being hit by another object.


Why do craters not erode on Mercury?

Mercury has no atmosphere and no surface fluids, so there is nothing to erode the craters.


Why do craters last for millions of years on the surface of the moon?

Craters last for millions of years on the surface of the moon because the moon does not have an atmosphere. Saying this the moon does not have anything able to fill in the craters such as soil or rain.


Why can we see the craters of the moon so clearly from earth?

We can see the craters of the moon clearly from Earth because the moon has no atmosphere to erode them, so they remain preserved. When the sun shines on the moon's surface at an angle, it creates long shadows that make the craters stand out more prominently, enhancing their visibility from Earth.


What caused the features of the moon?

Some of the mountains on the Moon appear to be natural formations. Unlike Earth, where wind and rain erode mountains and hillsides, the vacuum of the Moon keeps every feature pristine. The only things that affects the Lunar surface are meteors. Millions of meteor impact craters speckle the entire face of the Moon. Craters on craters IN craters; probably 3.5 billion years worth of lunar impact craters has made the Moon what we see today.


Why do craters last a million years on the moon?

They last much longer than that. Some of the moon's craters are billions of years old. They last so long because there is nothing to erase them. Earth has wind, water glaciers, volcanoes, and tectonic plates to bury, erode, and erase craters. The moon has none of these processes. Some refer to the moon as geologically dead.


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.


What happens to craters on the surface of bodies that have no atmosphere?

The craters are preserved as there is nothing to erode them.