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This oblique view of the crater Timocharis in southeastern Mare Imbrium
illustrates how the original diameter of a crater is enlarged by slumping
of its walls. Its present diameter is about 35 km. The sparsity of small
superposed craters on the walls of Timocharis - in contrast to their density
on its floor and rim-is caused by the erosive effect of downslope movement
of material on the steep walls. Timocharis, like many other young impact
craters of similar size, possesses a well-defined central peak complex.
Such structures are believed to result from elastic rebound of the bedrock
immediately after the impacting event. However, the central peak of Timocharis
apparently has been substantially modified by a large superimposed crater.
-G.G.S.
This web page was created by Francis Ridge
for The Lunascan Project
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