Meteorites and impact processes: from planetary seismology to planetary defense

par Dr Marouchka Froment (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris)

jeudi 23 avr. 2026, 14:30 → 15:30 Europe/Paris

DENISSE (PARIS)

Seismology provides a high-precision method for constraining the internal structure of planetary bodies. Its efficiency has been demonstrated on Earth, the Moon, and Mars, with Venus, Titan and asteroids as the next mission targets. In the context of planetary seismology, meteorite impacts constitute a key source of seismic activity. Characterizing their associated signals not only refines our interpretation of seismic recordings, but also improves our understanding of the impact cratering processes themselves.

In this talk, I will describe the multiple ways in which impact science contributes to the exploration of the Solar System. I will show how impacts provided constraints on the structure of the Martian crust and lower atmosphere in the context of the InSight mission, and how they can support the search for water ice on the Moon by combining seismic measurements near the South Pole with telescopic observation of Lunar Impact Flashes (LIFs). I will also discuss the importance of theoretical and numerical modeling of impact processes for the precise interpretation of their signals.

Finally, I will present current challenges in impact science, including the complexity of modeling regolith materials in low-gravity environments such as asteroids, and the need for improved physical understanding of impact processes in the context of planetary defense.