Displaced mass, depth, diameter, and effects of oblique trajectories for impact craters formed in dense crystalline rocks

Empirical formulae are presented for calculating the displaced mass, depth, diameter, and effects of oblique trajectories for impact craters formed in dense crystalline rocks. The formulae are applicable to craters with diameters from approximately 10−3–103 cm that require, respectively, impact kinetic energies of approximately 10 to 1016 ergs for their formation. The experimental results are in poor agreement with Öpik’s theoretical calculations and raise questions on the validity of his theoretical model.