Why is the SPA feature often classified as a 'basin' instead of merely a 'crater'?
Answer
The classification speaks to the catastrophic energy involved in its formation
The distinction between a basin and a crater is used to denote features formed by impacts involving energy levels so catastrophic that they create structures far larger than typical craters.
Related Questions
What is the most colossal impact feature on the Moon?Approximately how wide is the SPA basin at its widest extent?Where is the South Pole-Aitken basin situated almost entirely?Why is the SPA feature often classified as a 'basin' instead of merely a 'crater'?What is the deep geophysical signature detected beneath the SPA basin floor?What element has been found to be enriched in the impact debris, providing clues about the Moon's deep composition?The age of the SPA impact event is estimated to place its formation within which geological period?How does the underlying crust exposed by the SPA basin compare to the nearside crust?What alternative formation hypothesis does new research suggest for the SPA basin, moving away from the standard model?Why is studying the SPA basin's ejecta blanket particularly valuable for understanding the Moon's internal structure?When considering impact mechanics, the Moon's crust behaved like what material in the immediate aftermath of the strike that formed the SPA basin?