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Limits on large‐crater production and obliteration on Callisto
Author(s) -
Woronow Alex,
Strom Robert G.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl008i008p00891
Subject(s) - impact crater , jovian , astrobiology , crust , lunar craters , population , jupiter (rocket family) , terrestrial planet , geology , planet , earth science , astronomy , geophysics , physics , spacecraft , saturn , demography , sociology
By comparing results of Monte Carlo simulations of the crater population on Callisto with the observed surface, we demonstrate that the relative dearth of large craters on Ganymede and Callisto, compared with the terrestrial planets, can not be totally ascribed either to craters relaxing or to craters piercing a thin icy crust. Consequently, the population of objects responsible for the heavy bombardment of the jovian system differed markedly from that responsible for the late heavy bombardment of the terrestrial planets.