Crater formation is a research area that focuses on the study of how craters are formed on planetary surfaces, such as on the Moon, Mars, or Earth. Craters can be formed by various processes, such as impact events from asteroids or comets, volcanic activity, or underground explosions. Scientists in this field study the size, shape, distribution, and other characteristics of craters to understand the geological history of a planetary surface and to gain insights into past events that may have shaped the surface features. Additionally, research in this area can provide valuable information about the impact history of a planet or moon, as well as help in understanding the dynamics of impact events and their effects on planetary bodies.