Abstract
Whitepaper #197 submitted to the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. Topics: surface/geological evolution; other science themes: Impact cratering - All Aspects of Study; solar system formation, dynamics processes, and chronology
Highlights
This view of the lunar crater Pierazzo (3.3°N, 100.2°W, D≈9km) was taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera's Narrow Angle Camera in late 2017
Impact crater studies are a fundamental part of most solid body exploration across the Solar System
Impact cratering is ubiquitous across the Solar System, and impact craters are seen on practically all well resolved solid bodies
Summary
Impact crater studies are a fundamental part of most solid body exploration across the Solar System. Continued investigations of impact craters are a key component for all future planetary missions. Continued funding of impact crater studies, including field work, laboratory and computer simulations, and for related fields that could assist crater studies such as artificial intelligence is critical. Impact craters form via an almost instantaneous release of energy when a small body (the impactor) strikes a larger body (the target) These events and the signs they leave are critical to our understanding of the Solar System in many ways, and the purpose of this white paper is to support their continued study over the decade. All crater-based chronology models have uncertainties, so better understanding and calibration of crater-based chronologies should be an important part of the decade’s research This especially includes efforts to monitor for new craters forming via impact flashes (Moon) and repeat, ~meter-level imaging (Moon, Mars). Craters form on all solid bodies in the Solar System, and so any study of planetary surfaces must consider the effects of cratering. We have organized this paper by how data are gathered so that they can be better placed into the context of future missions
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