An unfortunate insect struck the center of our windshield while it was in motion recently, and left rays of scattered remains. I immediately thought of impact craters on the Moon such as Proclus seen in the lower photo (Doesn’t everyone?). The appearance of each is similar though vastly different in speeds and size.
A bug impact on a windshields is measured in miles per hour, while asteroid versus Moon is measured in miles per second, and the masses of the asteroids are exponentially greater! However, both produce notable splats with rays radiating every which way from the point of impact except from the direction of the approach of the unfortunate impactor. (The impact point is marked by red asterisk on upper photo and by the bright crater in the center of the lower photo).
The area of absence of rays, called the “zone of avoidance,” is seen in the ray distribution around many of the youngest craters of the moon, as well as on windshields at times. However, I am sure that the poor bug would have preferred to have avoided that zone altogether!
#spalt #bugs #windshield #mooncraters #rays #zoneofavoidance
Eskildoodle Photos and Feelings 