Fig. 2: Numerical iSALE-2D simulations of impact-basin formation.
From: Large impact cratering during lunar magma ocean solidification
a 60-km diameter projectile striking the Moon at 17 km/s, forming an Orientale-sized basin, and b 120-km diameter projectile striking the Moon at 17 km/s, forming a South Pole-Aitken-sized basin. The panels on the right show results when a 25-km thick melt layer is present between a 25-km thick crust and mantle, whereas the left panels show results without a melt layer. Simulation results are shown ~3 h after impact. Results are similar for a range of impact speeds, crustal thicknesses and melt-layer thicknesses. Beige colour denotes the crust, light orange is the melt layer and dark orange is the underlying solid mantle.
