Moon's crust as fractured as can be

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter PF_SpaceNews
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the condition of the Moon's crust, particularly its fracturing due to impacts during the Late Heavy Bombardment, and contrasts this with the state of Earth's crust. Participants explore the reasons behind the differences in crustal integrity between the two celestial bodies.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the Moon's crust was severely fractured due to impacts from asteroids during the Late Heavy Bombardment, leading to increased porosity and a network of seams beneath the surface.
  • One participant questions how the Moon could sustain so many impacts while Earth remained relatively unscathed.
  • Another participant challenges the idea that Earth's crust is in good order, suggesting that tectonic activity, surface gravity, and liquid water contribute to its stability.
  • Some participants discuss the processes of crustal subduction and melting on Earth, noting that older crustal parts exist but are generally younger than the Late Heavy Bombardment.
  • There is a light-hearted exchange regarding the term "puddy," with references to its use in patching holes, which leads to a discussion about the effects of erosion and geological processes on the longevity of crustal cavities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the state of Earth's crust compared to the Moon's, with no consensus reached on the implications of the Late Heavy Bombardment or the effectiveness of Earth's geological processes in maintaining crustal integrity.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to the hypothetical nature of the Late Heavy Bombardment and the complexities of geological processes on both the Moon and Earth, which may not be fully resolved or agreed upon by participants.

PF_SpaceNews
Moon's crust as fractured as can be

Scientists believe that about 4 billion years ago, during a period called the Late Heavy Bombardment, the moon took a severe beating, as an army of asteroids pelted its surface, carving out craters and opening deep fissures in its crust. Such sustained impacts increased the moon's porosity, opening up a network of large seams beneath the lunar surface.

Continue reading...
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
How did the moon take so many hits but the Earth relativity unscathed?
 
I don't think it did.

From wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Heavy_Bombardment

The Late Heavy Bombardment (abbreviated LHB and also known as the lunar cataclysm) is a hypothetical event thought to have occurred approximately 4.1 to 3.8 billion years (Ga) ago,[1] corresponding to the Neohadean and Eoarchean eras on Earth. During this interval, a disproportionately large number of asteroids apparently collided with the early terrestrial planets in the inner Solar System, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
 
Drakkith said:
I don't think it did.
But Earth's crust is in good order, right?
 
We have tectonic activity, and also a higher surface gravity and liquid water to "fix" rough structures.
 
mfb said:
We have tectonic activity, and also a higher surface gravity and liquid water to "fix" rough structures.
You mean the Earth has a kind of puddy or spackling? :smile:
 
What is "puddy"?

Parts of the crust get submerged below other parts, enter the molten mantle and melt, while elsewhere new crust material solidifies out of the mantle.
The oldest known parts of the crust are about 4.3 billion years old (older than the late heavy bombardment), but most parts are younger.

Add erosion, the tendency of water to enter underground cavities (which can speed up a collapse), earthquakes, ... and cavities have a hard time surviving for long timespans.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Greg Bernhardt
mfb said:
What is "puddy"?
Like what you use to patch a hole in dry wall :biggrin:
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
6K
Replies
29
Views
9K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
6K