When you look at pictures of other planets, their surface seems to be made up of a huge collection of craters (which I imagine are from meteorites). Planets such as [Mercury](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PFQ97KNjjTebMzenT3GeKd-970-80.jpg.webp), [Venus](https://scitechdaily.com/images/Venus-Global-View-Magellan-Mapping.jpg), [Mars](https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/19111442/pia00407.jpg?width=800), [Pluto](https://img.welt.de/img/wissenschaft/weltraum/mobile147668745/7032502177-ci102l-w1024/Zwergplanet-Pluto-2.jpg) (yes, not a planet) and even closer to home, the [moon](https://img.welt.de/img/wissenschaft/weltraum/mobile147668745/7032502177-ci102l-w1024/Zwergplanet-Pluto-2.jpg). But when you take a look at the [Earth](https://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/9400000/Earth-Wallpaper-planet-earth-9444615-1024-768.jpg), no craters are visible. Why is that?
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Earth’s atmosphere helps protect it from meteor impacts. Many meteors burn up completely upon passing through the atmosphere, while others burn almost completely and are slowed down, thus reducing the impact they make when they hit the earth. Other planets do not have an atmosphere equivalent to that of Earth.
Earth’s oceans also protect the planet from the impact of meteorites. About 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean (and about another 1% is covered by rivers and lakes), so many meteorites that strike the Earth leave no visible crater. Other planets do not have a liquid covering similar to that of Earth.
Antarctica is mostly covered with ice, and the continent covers about 2.75% of the Earth’s surface. Many meteorites that strike Antarctica have left craters in the ice, but not the land underneath, and those craters have since filled in with ice and snow. Not all planets have ice caps covered with ice.
Earth’s Moon also helps protect the planet from meteor impacts. Meteors headed directly toward Earth may strike the Moon, or they may be sufficiently deflected by the Moon’s gravity that they miss strike Earth.
In addition, some planets are larger than Earth. A larger planet means a bigger target for meteors, and thus they are sometimes the recipients of more meteor strikes.
Any finally, Earth has more factors affecting its surface, such as water and wind erosion, growth of plant life, and moving tectonic plates. Such factors can hide the effects of previous impacts, while other planets do not have as many factors to hide impacts on their own surfaces.
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