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Meteor impact and crater formation, illustration
Meteor impact and crater formation, illustration. The initial impact (top) forms a shockwave and a release wave (red lines). The material disturbed by the impact forms inward material flow and outward ejecta. The rock layers are both melted and vaporized, with an ejecta curtain rising and then falling to form an ejecta blanket. A transient cavity at the point of impact solidifies to form a crater. Features of the crater include fractured rock, melt-rich material, and features known as breccia lenses. For this illustration with labels, see image C047/5332.
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