Ultrasound tomography reveals damage zones underneath meteor craters Close-up on impact craters

Meteorites create more of an impact than the visible crater on the surface of the earth. Cracks and fissures occur underneath the impact site, too, and vary according to the size, power and impact angle of the celestial body. Up to now, geophysicists have not been able to accurately measure the true extent of these damage sites. Scientists from Technische Universität München (TUM) are currently trying to gain a better understanding of how craters are formed. Their work involves smashing miniature meteorites into rock under laboratory conditions – and then analyzing the craters using ultrasound tomography     «

Meteorites create more of an impact than the visible crater on the surface of the earth. Cracks and fissures occur underneath the impact site, too, and vary according to the size, power and impact angle of the celestial body. Up to now, geophysicists have not been able to accurately measure the true extent of these damage sites. Scientists from Technische Universität München (TUM) are currently trying to gain a better understanding of how craters are formed. Their work involves smashing miniatur...     »