Central peaks in lunar craters

Central peak features in 580 craters on the lunar near side were systematically studied, and detailed studies were made of several features of interest, in an attempt to define the mechanism of central peak formation. The peaks tend to be elongated along the preferred directions of the lunar grid. A weak correlation exists between peak size and crater size. Some peaks appear to have been formed or modified by volcanic processes, though strictly mechanical processes are known to produce central peaks on Earth. A more detailed knowledge of impact mechanics is required to account for the observations of the lunar central peaks.