planeetidevahelisest ruumist Maa pinnale langenud tahke keha (meteoorkeha) tekitatud väga erinevate mõõtmetega negatiivne pinnavorm, mida tavaliselt ümbritseb ringvall, an approximately circular depression in the ground surface formed when an extraterrestrial or celestial body strikes the ground surface; craters typically having raised rims and floors that are lower in elevation than the surrounding terrain; craters range from small, simple, bowl-shaped depressions to large, complex, multi-ringed impact basins.