– A giant asteroid impacted Mars over 2 million years ago in the Elysium Planitia region, leaving a large 13.9 km wide crater called Corinto.
– The impact blasted ejecta materials over long distances, creating up to 2 billion secondary craters across an area of 1,800 km from the primary crater. Some ejecta traveled as far as 1,850 km.
– Analysis of the distribution, size, and morphology of the secondary craters revealed details about the impact. They were most concentrated to the south and southwest of Corinto crater, indicating the asteroid approached from the north or northeast at a 30-45 degree angle.
– Secondary craters varied in shape depending on their distance from Corinto and the size/speed of ejecta materials. Closer craters were semi-circular while more distant ones were elliptical.
– The large number of secondary craters suggests most ejecta materials were basaltic lava, in line with the volcano that was impacted. Some ejecta compositional evidence points to interaction with ice or water.
– At over 2 million years old, this impact event is considered very recent and left one of the most extensive impact ray and secondary crater systems seen on Mars so far. Such a large asteroid is estimated to strike Mars only once every 3 million years.
Source: Space
