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Cometary collisions on the Moon and Mercury

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Abstract

Unusual swirl patterns of bright and dark material on the Moon and Mercury are proposed to be remnants of collisions with gas/dust-rich regions within a cometary coma. This interpretation provides important new clues for understanding cometary fine structure, impact effects of low-density material, and the origin of certain pronounced magnetic anomalies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3303 NASA Road 1, Houston, Texas, 77058

    Peter H. Schultz & Leonard J. Srnka

  2. Exxon Production Research Co., Houston, Texas, 77001

    Leonard J. Srnka

Authors
  1. Peter H. Schultz
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  2. Leonard J. Srnka
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Schultz, P., Srnka, L. Cometary collisions on the Moon and Mercury. Nature 284, 22–26 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/284022a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/284022a0

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