Further advances on low-energy lunar impact dynamics

We extend the analysis, started in a previous work [1], concerning the formation of lunar impact craters due to low-energy trajectories. First, we adopt the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem and consider different choices of initial conditions inside the stable invariant manifold associated with the central invariant one in the neighborhood of the L2 equilibrium point in the Earth–Moon system. Then we move to the Bicircular Restricted Four-Body Problem to study the effect of the Sun on the distribution of impacts on the Moon’s surface.

► Impacts of low-energy minor bodies onto the Moon may be slightly shifted from the lunar apex. ► Resonance with the Moon does not play a role when the hyperbolic manifold is driving the dynamics. ► Sun’s influence has a periodic effect on the regions and percentage of collision. ► Relative Sun–Earth–Moon configuration is crucial for lunar low-energy impact dynamics.