Multi-Floor Irregular Crater on Venus

The size and shape of a crater are affected by many factors. The bigger and faster moving the object is, the larger the crater it will make. The more gravity a planetary body has, the faster an object will be moving when it hits. Gravity, the presence of an atmosphere, the angle of impact, and the nature of the surface material also affect crater shape. For instance, the atmosphere of Venus is so dense that some objects break apart and form clustered impact craters, like this one. Image courtesy of NASA.