A New Chronology for the Moon and Mercury

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

Craters represent one of the most spectacular surface features of solid bodies of the Solar System. Cratering studies provide a fundamental tool for age determination of planetary terrains. Since the beginning of the lunar exploration, age estimates for the lunar terrains were derived, followed by detailed chronology models for the Moon and other terrestrial planets. Recently, thanks to a fleet of new space missions (e.g. Mars Express to Mars, Messenger to Mercury, and Kaguya to the Moon) this field of research entered a new exciting phase, where accurate age estimates provide means for detailed geological studies. In this paper we present a new model for dating the surface of the Moon, obtained by simulating the incoming flux of impactors and converting it into a size distribution of resulting craters. We compare this model with the standard chronology for the Moon showing their similarities and discrepancies. In particular, we derive implications for a non-constant impactor flux in recent times and also revise the late heavy bombardment hypothesis. We also show the potential of our model for accurate dating of other inner Solar System bodies, by applying it to Mercury.

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