Astronomers have found the largest impact crater in the solar system

Scientists have discovered the largest impact crater in the entire solar system. Astronomers found it on the very

Jupiter's large moon, Ganymede. Much of the celestial body is covered with “scars” from impacts, so it was difficult for researchers to find this crater.

Astronomers relied on observational data frommany past NASA missions. They studied the massive Moon, which is larger than Mercury, the smallest planet. In particular, they concentrated on the grooves that appear on the surface of celestial bodies.

Researchers have learned that these furrowsevidence of powerful blows from all sides of Ganymede. But upon reconsidering the structures, the scientists behind the new research suggested that the structure was an impact crater.

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The researchers also conducted a comprehensivesimulation on a very powerful computer of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. These data indicate that, most likely, a celestial body collided with a huge asteroid. Its diameter is about 15 km., It moved at a speed of 20 kilometers per second. The researchers suggest that particles of a celestial body can be found in the crater.

They want to confirm this theory - scientists can do it when the European Space Agency's JUICE probe reaches the moon in 2029. Its launch is scheduled for 2022.

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