Craters

Front

Crater Noun

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[kray-ter]

Back

Crater

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A large, bowl-shaped depression on a planet or moon's surface, typically formed by a high-velocity impact or volcanic eruption.

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Example: A satellite view of a large crater formed by an impact, showing the bowl-shaped depression.

Front

Impact Noun

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[im-pakt]

Back

Impact

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The forceful collision of one celestial body, such as an asteroid, with the surface of another object like a planet.

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Example: An asteroid colliding with Earth creates a crater, demonstrating the impact force.

Front

Coesite Noun

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[koh-uh-sahyt]

Back

Coesite

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A dense form of silica created under extremely high pressure, serving as a key indicator of a meteorite impact event.

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Example: Coesite is a dense mineral formed under high pressure, often found at meteorite impact sites.

Front

Shocked Quartz Noun

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[shokt kworts]

Back

Shocked Quartz

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A form of quartz with a microscopic structure deformed by the intense shockwave from a high-velocity meteorite impact event.

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Example: Shocked quartz shows lines formed by meteorite impact pressure.

Front

Meteoroid Noun

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[mee-tee-uh-roid]

Back

Meteoroid

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A small body of rock or metal moving through interplanetary space, significantly smaller than an asteroid but larger than dust.

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Example: The image shows meteoroids in the solar system, illustrating their movement through space.

Front

Meteor Noun

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[mee-tee-er]

Back

Meteor

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A streak of light in the sky, known as a shooting star, produced by a meteoroid burning up in an atmosphere.

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Example: A meteor entering Earth's atmosphere creates a bright streak of light, known as a shooting star.

Front

Asteroid Noun

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[as-tuh-roid]

Back

Asteroid

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A large, rocky object that orbits the Sun, smaller than a planet, and is often found in the asteroid belt.

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Example: The image shows the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, illustrating where asteroids are commonly found in the solar system.

Front

Asteroid Belt Noun

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[as-tuh-roid belt]

Back

Asteroid Belt

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The region of the solar system located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, where most asteroids are concentrated.

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Example: The image shows the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, highlighting its position in the solar system.

Front

Comet Noun

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[kom-it]

Back

Comet

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A celestial body made of ice, dust, and rock that develops a glowing tail as it orbits close to the Sun.

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Example: A comet with a glowing tail approaching a planet, showing how it develops a tail when near the Sun.

Front

Ejecta Noun

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[ih-jek-tuh]

Back

Ejecta

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Material, such as rock and dust, that is forcefully thrown out from a crater during an impact or volcanic explosion.

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Example: The image shows volcanic eruptions with material being forcefully ejected, illustrating 'ejecta' from craters.