Formation of Lunar Glassy Spherules: A Dynamical Model

A. Carusi, A. Coradini, M. Fulchignoni, G. Magni
1972 Symposium - International astronomical union  
Glassy spherules ranging from 200 μ to 62 μ in size have been separated from lunar dust samples No. 12001.73, 12057.60, 12070.37. Most of them are regular in size (spherical, ellipsoidic, dumbbell, teardrop, etc.); some are irregularly shaped.A tentative dynamical model of the evolution of a rotating melted spherical drop of homogeneous glassy material has been built in order to explain the observed forms. We suppose such fluid to be originated from the impact of meteoroids on the lunar
more » ... The energy balance between the projectile (meteoroid) and the target (lunar surface) has been calculated supposing that the impact gives rise to strong shock waves in both bodies.Equations of the model have been solved numerically and a good agreement between these results and the experimental data regarding small spherules has been obtained.
doi:10.1017/s0074180900097527 fatcat:qvu3xkbqord4rmtuajhhepikye