New simulations reveal that the shapes of impact craters on Earth may have been influenced by asteroids

New simulations have shed light on the varied shapes of impact craters on Earth, such as Arizona’s Barringer Crater, suggesting that asteroids with curveball-like spin and loose bonding strengths may have influenced these formations.

Impact craters are visible scars on celestial bodies, showcasing diverse shapes throughout the solar system. However, Earth’s craters differ in shape and size from those on Jupiter’s moon and other celestial bodies.

The research, detailed in the journal Physical Review E on November 22, focused on Earth’s craters, emphasizing the variability in shapes, including the 49,000-year-old Barringer Crater in Arizona. The study proposed that loosely bound, clumpy asteroids with curveball-like spins could be responsible for creating some of Earth’s uniquely shaped craters. Specifically, craters formed by rapidly spinning asteroids tend to be wider and shallower compared to those formed by slower-spinning counterparts.

While previous research identified factors like asteroid velocity as contributors to crater diversity, the new study delved into two often-overlooked parameters: the asteroid’s spin and clumpiness.

Contrary to intuition, which might suggest that a spinning asteroid would create a deeper crater, the study indicated that rapidly spinning “rubble-piles,” composed of weakly-bound components like those found in asteroid Bennu, produce wide, shallow craters.

This study is crucial for understanding how different types of craters form and how materials disperse after an impact. By examining the spin and clumpiness of asteroids, scientists aim to gain insights into these processes and advance our understanding of impact events.