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What is wrong with calling a rock that strikes the moon a meteorite?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Because a "meteorite" is a rock that passed through the Earth's atmosphere, was heated to incandescence by pressure and friction, and then struck the Earth. A space rock that hits the Moon didn't land on the Earth.
However, this is a pretty minor distinction, and some space scientists use the term "meteorite" for any rock that falls from space, whether to the Earth, the Moon or Mars. NASA has occasionally used the term "meteorite" for rocks found by the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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What kind of weathering occur on the moon?
Solar wind & meteor strikes.
What causes erosion on the moon surface?
Meteorite and asteroid impacts would cause erosion of the moon's surface. Man will also have had an almost minuscule impact as well due to the moon landings although this will be so tiny as to be virtually unmeasurable!
10 places not polluted by humans?
The earth can definitely be polluted by humans but i guess the *sun *moon *mars * milky-way can never be polluted.. i might be wrong who knows
Does the earth and moon both have erosion and weathering?
Yes, however on the moon erosion occurs over millions of years, not the hours or days that the wind and rain and sand erode things on earth. Erosion on the moon is caused by the extreme temperature changes which expand and contract things with each rising sun. Also, the moon is constantly being bombarded by microscopic particles of solar wind and radiation which also erode features very slowly over time. The last source of lunar erosion occurs when a large object strikes the moon. When that happens, a new crater is formed and the ejecta from that crater go out and break up other smaller rocks and small boulders.
What is a sorcerer's moon?
A sorcerer's moon is a full moon in literature. This moon is sometimes called a blood moon, a Halloween moon, or even a harvest or hunter's moon.
Why does the moon's surface have more craters from meteorite strikes than the Earth surface?
it is easy the eathhave a capa de osono that protect the eath but the moon dont have it
How can you pick up the meteorite in Mount Moon?
The meteorite in Mt. Moon cannot be picked up.
What are the relief features of the moon?
Craters from meteorite impacts.
Is the moon plasma?
The Moon is not plasma, it is believed to be a piece of rock that was smashed out of the earth by a meteorite.
What Craters on the surface of the moon are caused by the impact of .?
When an asteroid, comet, or meteorite collides with the Moon a crater is formed.
Can you hear the sound of meteorite falling on moon?
we canot hear because sound travel in waves. on moon there is no atmosphere
Is it wrong to call an object that strikes the face of the Moon a meteorite?
Hmmm... Convention has it that an object headed for the Earth from space is called a "meteoroid" (as opposed to those that are not headed for the Earth which are either "comets" or "asteroids"). When the meteoroid strikes the atmosphere it heats up and ablates to be seen in the sky as a "meteor" (a shooting star). If the object or parts of the object survive transit though the atmosphere to land on the planet (Earth) itself, these fragments are called "meteorites". The process is generic and will happen on any planet/body in the solar system with an atmosphere and people would understand what was meant by a "Martian meteorite" (of which examples have been observed by the Mars rovers). However, the Moon does not have an atmosphere so ALL bodies that are headed towards it will hit it and as such perhaps a better term would be "Lunar impacter".
Where can you find the Meteorite Crash on Neopets?
the meteor, or meteor crash site, is here: http://www.neopets.com/moon/meteor.phtml
What is the low sunken surface feature of the moon?
The low sunken surface area on the moon is the result of when the surface of the moon was once struck by a large meteorite.
What is bigger moon solar system meteorite comet star galaxy universe?
Obviously, the Universe is the biggest of that lot. Next biggest is "galaxy", then solar system, then star, then moon. A comet is usually bigger than a meteorite, but not always.
Why are the craters on the moon all perfectly circular?
It can not be because the moon has no atmosphere or gravity....in fact many craters would then have a parabolical shape because all meteorites can not impact with the moon at an exact vertical angle. So why can it be? It is because the theories of the moon being part of a very young earth is simply not true. Earth with it's much stronger gravitational pull should attract far more meteorites away from the moon, had this been the case. Also, the moon, being so close to earth, is protected by the earth from meteorite strikes directly in line with the earth. Earth's gravity would not allow meteorites to hit the moon directly behind it. Missing earth, the meteorites will definitely not impact with the moon directly behind earth. Many craters are on the side of the moon facing earth, so how did these meteorites get past earth to stirke the moon exactly face on? Remember that the moon is in terms of the universe, very close to earth therefore earth is shielding the moon against many many meteorite strikes from directly behind earth itself. Sorry, but I can not answer this question!
The features on the Moon formed by objects crashing into its surface are?
When an asteroid, comet, or meteorite collides with the Moon a crater is formed.
