The South Pole–Aitken basin (SPA Basin, /ˈeɪtkɪn/) is an immense impact crater on the far side of the Moon. At roughly 2,500 km (1,600 mi) in diameter and between 6.2 and 8.2 km (3.9–5.1 mi) deep, it is one of the largest known impact craters in the Solar System.
What is the biggest crater in the moon?
South Pole-Aitken basin is the largest crater on the Moon.
What is a moon crater called?
Lunar craters are impact craters on Earth’s Moon. The Moon’s surface has many craters, all of which were formed by impacts. The International Astronomical Union currently recognizes 9,137 craters, of which 1,675 have been dated.
Are there bottomless craters on the moon?
At approximately 8 miles deep, it isn’t “bottomless,” but the Aitken Basin is the deepest crater ever observed on the Moon; of course, that depth is more than offset by the enormous area of the impact site, which is approximately 1600 miles in diameter.
Which planet has the largest crater?
New analysis of Mars’ terrain using NASA spacecraft observations reveals what appears to be by far the largest impact crater ever found in the solar system. New analysis of Mars’ terrain using NASA spacecraft observations reveals what appears to be by far the largest impact crater ever found in the solar system.
Which is the deepest trench in Moon?
The South Pole–Aitken basin is the largest, deepest and oldest basin recognized on the Moon.
How deep is the deepest crater on Earth?
Kaali Crater
At an altitude of about 5-10 km, the meteorite broke into pieces and fell to the Earth in fragments. The largest crater is about 110 meters wide and 22 meters deep. Within a 1 kilometer radius of the main crater lie 8 smaller craters that were created during this bombardment.
What is the big spot on the moon?
The surface of the Moon is covered in huge dark spots, visible from Earth even with the naked eye. These patches are known as maria – a Latin word meaning ‘seas’.
Who discovered the moon?
Galileo was the first to discover physical details about the individual bodies of the Solar System. He discovered that the Moon was cratered, that the Sun was marked with sunspots, and that Jupiter had four satellites in orbit around it.
What are the three layers of the moon?
Beneath its thin coating of crushed rock, the Moon has three layers—a crust, a mantle, and a core. As on Earth, the crust is the outermost layer. It averages about 70 kilometers (about 40 mi) thick and contains the least dense type of rock. Beneath the crust is a thick mantle that makes up most of the Moon’s volume.
What is the deepest crater?
Stretching 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) wide and 8 miles (13 km) deep, the South Pole-Aitken basin, as the tremendous hole is known to Earthlings, is the oldest and deepest crater on the moon, and one of the largest craters in the entire solar system.
Does the moon ring like a bell?
The Moon rang like a bell
Between 1969 and 1977, seismometers installed on the Moon by the Apollo missions recorded moonquakes. The Moon was described as “ringing like a bell” during some of those quakes, specifically the shallow ones.
Does the dark side of the moon have more craters?
The first image of the far side of the Moon showed some surprising differences when compared with the face that we normally see. The far side has far fewer ‘maria’, which are large dark patches caused by ancient volcanic flows. Instead it is much more densely covered with craters compared to the near side.
What is the hottest planet?
Venus is the exception, as its proximity to the Sun and dense atmosphere make it our solar system’s hottest planet. The average temperatures of planets in our solar system are: Mercury – 800°F (430°C) during the day, -290°F (-180°C) at night. Venus – 880°F (471°C)
Which planet has a day longer than a year?
On Venus, one rotation on its axis takes the equivalent of 243 Earth days and the planet’s orbit around the Sun takes the equivalent of 225 Earth days.
Which planet has least craters?
Mercury is the smallest planet — it is only slightly larger than Earth’s moon. Since it has no significant atmosphere to stop impacts, the planet is pockmarked with craters.