<p>Theoretically, if you're talking crater to planet size, I (think) a crater that covers half or a bit more than half of the planet is possible if you have a dense planet (Say, Mercury) and a lighter, more icy object (say, Titan).   Mercury would break Titan apart like a hammer hitting glass (er, maybe), but Titan, which is slightly larger than Mercury but weights only 41% as much, with a lower velocity impact, might not make the entire surface moulton and could leave an impact crater over 50% of the surface with debris scattered unevenly leaving something like an impact crater.   That's, granted, pretty speculative, but I think that type of impact, a rocky world and an icy one of similar size might provide a collision that could create an impact crater a bit larger than 50% of the planet's surface.   Such an impact would be interesting to observe, but . . . I probably won't see one in my life time, unless they get some very good telescopes out there and get lucky.   </p>

<p>Theoretically if you count surface melt, it's arguably possible to have an impact that would melt 75% or more of the surface but leave 25% or less intact, but I don't consider surface melt the same thing as an impact crater, so I wouldn't count that, but that's optional.</p>

<p>As far as largest known craters, if we measure crater diameter against planet or moon radius (I'm going to ignore depth cause depth is easier on lower gravity bodies), but just diameter to radius.</p>

<p><strong>Hershal on Mimas</strong> (the death star crater)  (Props to Andy)</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MDyIN.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MDyIN.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Diameter of Hershal, 139 km.    Radius of Mimas, 198 km.   Ratio, 70%.</p>

<p>But there's an even bigger one.</p>

<p>The <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pole%E2%80%93Aitken_basin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">South Pole–Aitken basin</a></strong> on the moon.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/pTm3t.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pTm3t.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Article <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/features/2010/biggest_crater.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a></p>

<p>It went undetected until relatively recently because it's large enough that it no longer looks like a crater, but it is, and it affected the Moon's density where one half of the moon has a measurably thicker crust than the other half. (The crater half, I presume, the crust is thinner).   This makes orbits around the Moon weird cause the moon is gravitationally quite lumpy.  (Proximity to the Earth also makes orbits around the Moon weird, but that's another story.</p>

<p>This ancient crater has a diameter of about 2,500 km compared to the radius of the moon of 1,737 km a ratio of about 144%, over twice the relative diameter and 4 times the relative size relative to the crater on Mimas.</p>

<p>and <strong>Mars</strong> might have an even bigger one.   See <a href="http://www.space.com/5558-huge-impact-created-mars-split-personality.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.  It's size isn't listed, but Mars (like the Moon) has a "split personality" where one side has a measurably thinner crust than the other side and one possible, perhaps likely cause of that is a giant impact.   This "Crater" if we want to call it a crater covers about 1/2 the planet.   This is different than the theorized Earth-Theia impact, which liquefied the surface and left no visible crater, but it may have liquefied half the surface and not left a very visible impact.     One problem with measuring craters as they get this large is they look less like craters.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-08T14:15:49.620Z
I saw that area on the moon a year or so ago and wondered about what could have caused that. I hadn't read anything about it though. Thanks for the link to the new info!
EveryBitHelps
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-08T11:42:57.760Z
2016-09-08T11:42:57.760Z
userLTK
<p>What is the biggest possible crater from an asteroid impact? Not asking for the biggest existing crater in the solar system. I should be able to find plenty of lists online. What I'm curious about is how big a crater can form before the impact results in both bodies reforming destroying near all evidence of the crater itself. </p>

<p>I don't mind erosion or normal geological processes  destroying the craters. That is just a matter of time. </p>

<p>Eg when the Mars size object hit the Earth. Both were substantially altered and incorporated in each other. Earth experienced a near complete reformation (in the spherical sense). Also resulted in the moon's formation. Obviously that sort of impact doesn't leave an 'obvious' crater.</p>

<p><strong>I assume the makeup (mineral, size, speed, angle of impact etc) of both bodies will change the answer, so maybe a just a short list of sizes for the various <em>xommon</em> combinations?</strong></p>

<p>Eg what would be the biggest crater possible on Earth before the Earth experienced severe...Um, reshaping?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-07T18:29:43.950Z
It also depends on how much time has passed. Theia hit Earth billions of years ago, so even if it knocked off a huge chunk of Earth, the planet would have more than enough time to reform. On a smaller scale, natural terrain changes can affect the size of craters.
Sir Cumference
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-07T18:35:47.193Z
Is this specifically about Earth? For smaller bodies, it is easier to form a large (relative to its size) crater.
Alex
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-07T19:27:45.260Z
This isn't specifically about Earth. But if it helps frame an answer it can be used.
EveryBitHelps
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-08T06:33:11.603Z
I've heard it claimed that [Herschel (a crater on Mimas)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herschel_(Mimantean_crater)) is about as large as a crater can get before the parent body is destroyed, but I've never seen a mathematical treatment. That might be a place to start looking though...
Andy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-08T06:43:00.120Z
Ah, the fossilised remains of a Death Star! Hadn't realised it was soo big. If it was on Earth the crater walls would be 4000km wide and 200km high!! Whow! Thanks!
EveryBitHelps
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-08T10:51:51.783Z
@EveryBitHelps in fairness, the greater gravity reduces the size of the possible height.   A small moon can have an greater depth to a crater that a planet isn't likely to have.   The possible width, however, might be pretty consistent.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-08T11:20:44.360Z
That is a valid point. Thanks for pointing it out!
EveryBitHelps
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-09T21:25:45.827Z
I've sometimes wondered whether the Pacific Basin might be a remnant of the Theia impact, but apparently it's only 750 million years old (forming during the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent). Plate movements have probably erased any signs of the impact.
Keith Thompson
<asteroids><crater>
How big can a crater get?
EveryBitHelps
# How big can a crater get?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-07)

What is the biggest possible crater from an asteroid impact? Not asking for the biggest existing crater in the solar system. I should be able to find plenty of lists online. What I'm curious about is how big a crater can form before the impact results in both bodies reforming destroying near all evidence of the crater itself.

I don't mind erosion or normal geological processes destroying the craters. That is just a matter of time.

Eg when the Mars size object hit the Earth. Both were substantially altered and incorporated in each other. Earth experienced a near complete reformation (in the spherical sense). Also resulted in the moon's formation. Obviously that sort of impact doesn't leave an 'obvious' crater.

**I assume the makeup (mineral, size, speed, angle of impact etc) of both bodies will change the answer, so maybe a just a short list of sizes for the various *xommon* combinations?**

Eg what would be the biggest crater possible on Earth before the Earth experienced severe...Um, reshaping?

**Tags:** asteroids, crater

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It also depends on how much time has passed. Theia hit Earth billions of years ago, so even if it knocked off a huge chunk of Earth, the planet would have more than enough time to reform. On a smaller scale, natural terrain changes can affect the size of craters.  
> **username_2**: Is this specifically about Earth? For smaller bodies, it is easier to form a large (relative to its size) crater.  
> **username_0**: This isn't specifically about Earth. But if it helps frame an answer it can be used.  
> **username_3**: I've heard it claimed that [Herschel (a crater on Mimas)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herschel_(Mimantean_crater)) is about as large as a crater can get before the parent body is destroyed, but I've never seen a mathematical treatment. That might be a place to start looking though...  
> **username_0**: Ah, the fossilised remains of a Death Star! Hadn't realised it was soo big. If it was on Earth the crater walls would be 4000km wide and 200km high!! Whow! Thanks!  
> **username_4**: @username_0 in fairness, the greater gravity reduces the size of the possible height.   A small moon can have an greater depth to a crater that a planet isn't likely to have.   The possible width, however, might be pretty consistent.  
> **username_0**: That is a valid point. Thanks for pointing it out!  
> **username_5**: I've sometimes wondered whether the Pacific Basin might be a remnant of the Theia impact, but apparently it's only 750 million years old (forming during the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent). Plate movements have probably erased any signs of the impact.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-09-08. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Theoretically, if you're talking crater to planet size, I (think) a crater that covers half or a bit more than half of the planet is possible if you have a dense planet (Say, Mercury) and a lighter, more icy object (say, Titan). Mercury would break Titan apart like a hammer hitting glass (er, maybe), but Titan, which is slightly larger than Mercury but weights only 41% as much, with a lower velocity impact, might not make the entire surface moulton and could leave an impact crater over 50% of the surface with debris scattered unevenly leaving something like an impact crater. That's, granted, pretty speculative, but I think that type of impact, a rocky world and an icy one of similar size might provide a collision that could create an impact crater a bit larger than 50% of the planet's surface. Such an impact would be interesting to observe, but . . . I probably won't see one in my life time, unless they get some very good telescopes out there and get lucky.

Theoretically if you count surface melt, it's arguably possible to have an impact that would melt 75% or more of the surface but leave 25% or less intact, but I don't consider surface melt the same thing as an impact crater, so I wouldn't count that, but that's optional.

As far as largest known craters, if we measure crater diameter against planet or moon radius (I'm going to ignore depth cause depth is easier on lower gravity bodies), but just diameter to radius.

**Hershal on Mimas** (the death star crater) (Props to username_3)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/MDyIN.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/MDyIN.jpg)

Diameter of Hershal, 139 km. Radius of Mimas, 198 km. Ratio, 70%.

But there's an even bigger one.

The **[South Pole–Aitken basin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pole%E2%80%93Aitken_basin)** on the moon.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/pTm3t.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/pTm3t.jpg)

Article [here](http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/features/2010/biggest_crater.html)

It went undetected until relatively recently because it's large enough that it no longer looks like a crater, but it is, and it affected the Moon's density where one half of the moon has a measurably thicker crust than the other half. (The crater half, I presume, the crust is thinner). This makes orbits around the Moon weird cause the moon is gravitationally quite lumpy. (Proximity to the Earth also makes orbits around the Moon weird, but that's another story.

This ancient crater has a diameter of about 2,500 km compared to the radius of the moon of 1,737 km a ratio of about 144%, over twice the relative diameter and 4 times the relative size relative to the crater on Mimas.

and **Mars** might have an even bigger one. See [here](http://www.space.com/5558-huge-impact-created-mars-split-personality.html). It's size isn't listed, but Mars (like the Moon) has a "split personality" where one side has a measurably thinner crust than the other side and one possible, perhaps likely cause of that is a giant impact. This "Crater" if we want to call it a crater covers about 1/2 the planet. This is different than the theorized Earth-Theia impact, which liquefied the surface and left no visible crater, but it may have liquefied half the surface and not left a very visible impact. One problem with measuring craters as they get this large is they look less like craters.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I saw that area on the moon a year or so ago and wondered about what could have caused that. I hadn't read anything about it though. Thanks for the link to the new info!  

---

