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Between Earth and the Moon, which one is believed to have the older surface, and what accounts for the stark contrast in the appearance of cratering on their surfaces, with the Moon displaying thousands of visible impact craters of various sizes, whereas Earth only exhibits a few large craters?

User Andy Shen
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Final answer:

The Moon is believed to have the older surface compared to Earth, and the stark contrast in the appearance of cratering on their surfaces is due to the difference in geological processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Moon is believed to have the older surface compared to Earth. The stark contrast in the appearance of cratering on their surfaces is due to the difference in geological processes.

On the Moon, the visible impact craters are the result of interplanetary debris, such as asteroids and comets, colliding with its surface over billions of years. The Moon's lack of an atmosphere and tectonic activity has allowed these craters to remain preserved.

On the other hand, Earth's surface is constantly changing due to plate tectonics, erosion, and weathering. These processes gradually erase evidence of impact craters, leaving behind few large craters that have managed to withstand the geological forces over time.

User Tetsuya Yamamoto
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