Science Education Standards:

Earth and Space Science -- Content Standard D

Earth's History

• The Earth processes we see today, including erosion, movement of lithospheric plates and changes in atmospheric composition, are similar to those that occurred in the past. Earth history is also influenced by occasional catastrophes, such as the impact of an asteroid or comet.

Transfer of Energy

• Energy is a property of many substances and is associated with heat, light, electricity, mechanical motion, sound, nuclei, and the nature of a chemical. Energy is transferred in many ways.

Short Description: We've seen plenty of pictures of a pockmarked moon. Now it's the students' turn to create their own multi-cratered surface. Students will learn how planetary surfaces are modified by multiple impacts and how surfaces can be dated by analysis of craters. In addition, they will learn to understand the effects of illumination angle on the detection of craters.