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Ancient Bombardment of the Inner Solar System: Reinvestigation of the “Fingerprints” of Different Impactor Populations on the Lunar Surface
Author(s) -
Orgel Csilla,
Michael Gregory,
Fassett Caleb I.,
van der Bogert Carolyn H.,
Riedel Christian,
Kneissl Thomas,
Hiesinger Harald
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1002/2017je005451
Subject(s) - impact crater , geology , structural basin , solar system , ejecta , projectile , asteroid , population , astrobiology , paleontology , astronomy , physics , demography , quantum mechanics , supernova , sociology
The lunar cratering record provides valuable information about the late accretion history of the inner solar system. However, our understanding of the origin, rate, and timing of the impacting projectiles is far from complete. To learn more about these projectiles, we can examine crater size‐frequency distributions (CSFDs) on the Moon. Here we reinvestigate the crater populations of 30 lunar basins (≥ 300 km) using the buffered nonsparseness correction technique, which takes crater obliteration into account, thus providing more accurate measurements for the frequencies of smaller crater sizes. Moreover, we revisit the stratigraphic relationships of basins based on N(20) crater frequencies, absolute model ages, and observation data. The buffered nonsparseness correction‐corrected CSFDs of individual basins, particularly at smaller crater diameters are shifted upward. Contrary to previous studies, the shapes of the summed CSFDs of Pre‐Nectarian (excluding South Pole‐Aitken Basin), Nectarian (including Nectaris), and Imbrian (including Imbrium) basins show no statistically significant differences and thus provide no evidence for a change of impactor population.