why are all craters on the moon round? You would think that most would look elongated or elliptical depending on the angle of impact.

Question

why are all craters on the moon round? You would think that most would look elongated or elliptical depending on the angle of impact.

In: 498

Answer 1

The kinetic energy of the object impacting the moon is larger than the energy holding the object together. So the object explodes instead of deforming into the surface of the moon.

You can do this by throwing snowballs at walls. Regardless of the angle. As long as you throw it hard enough, it will always leave a circle of snow on the wall.

ELI5: The object is moving so fast that it shatters like glass instead of smushing like play-doh.