Table of Contents

1: Themes in the Study of Impact Cratering
2: Crater Morphology
3: Stress Waves in Solids
4: Cratering Mechanics: Contact and Compression State
5: Cratering Mechanics; Excavation Stage
6: Ejecta Deposits
7: Scaling of Crater Dimensions
8: Cratering Mechanics: Modification Stage
9: Multiring Basins
10: Cratered Landscapes
11: Atmospheric Interactions
12: Impact Cratering and Planetary Evolution

Reviews

"Impact cratering has been recognized as an important geologic process for only the last few decades. As recently as 1950 most astronomers believed that the lunar craters were giant volcanoes, and all but a few geologists derided the idea that the earth's surface has been scarred by impact structures kilometers in diameter. A vigorous program of planetary exploration in the Apollo era and continued geologic research on earth has changed these views profoundly
. . . . In the minds of many geologists, impact cratering has risen from complete obscurity to become one of the 'most fundamental' geologic processes. One meteoricist has even suggested that future historians will accord the recognition of impact cratering an equal importance with the development
of plate tectonics . . . . This book is an attempt to bring together the current knowledge on impact cratering in a single and comprehensive treatise." --from the Preface
"A very welcome addition to the literature, bringing the subject together and filling in the gaps left by compendia of papers in conference proceedings volumes which have dealt only with selected aspects. . . . This well-written and amply illustrated book will serve as an excellent reference and teaching text for senior undergraduate and graduate students." --Nature
"All in all, this is a well-written and comprehensive book....I doubt that many will disagree about the usefulness and importance of this book." --Science
"It is going to be a classic . . . . Melosh brilliantly and lucidly summarizes all that is known (or thought to be known) of hypervelocity impact and cratering on planetary surfaces. . . . this volume belongs on the shelf of every planetary scientist and meteoricist whose work involves shock phenomena to any extent." -- Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
"The book is. . . lucidly written and the illustrative photos are well-chosen and of superb quality. . . . A final commendable feature is that the most important primary references, suggested for further reading, are assembled and briefly described at the end of each chapter." --Journal of Geology
"Melosh has written an outstanding book on cratering, covering the subject matter clearly and in detail. This book is useful both as a textbook and also for reference purposes." --Geophysics
"Fills a severe gap in planetology . . . . It constitutes a fundamental reference for a large variety of fields in which impact processes play a leading role. Therefore I am convinced that it will receive a wide distribution and I highly recommend it to all planetary scientists including those geologists who care about the fundamentals governing the formation and evolution of the planet earth." --Meteoritics
"This book is a welcome addition to the impact cratering literature by an author who has contributed significantly to several aspects of the science. Its purpose, according to the author, is to bring together in one volume the current state of knowledge of a field that covers many separate disciplines, and in this task it is certainly successful." --PAGEOPH
"The book is well written, and the mathematics is kept to as simple a level as possible in the text . . . . This is the first attempt at such a textbook and it has been successful; it will prove to be a great help to any postgraduates in this field, and would also be of interest to keen undergraduates." --The Observatory
"Should meet with approval as an invaluable introduction to cratering. . .Melosh writes with such clarity that anyone fascinated by cratering would benefit from reading large sections of the text." --Impact!