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?
In: 9
Erosion. If a meteor falls on the Moon, Mercury or Pluto, the crater just stays there forever since there’s nothing to remove it. On Mars and Venus the crater will be a dent in the hard rocky ground and winds will slowly erode it over the course of centuries and millenia. Mars additionally has almost no atmosphere, so winds won’t be a big deal. On Earth a meteorite will either fall into the ocean (leaving no crater for obvious reasons) or land somewhere with soft soil, winds and constant flow of water that will erode it much quicker, not to mention vegetation covering it. However, there still are traces of craters, you just have to look more carefully for them.
Latest Answers