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Credit & Copyright: Tony Rowell
Explanation:
What happens when a
meteor hits the ground?
Usually nothing much, as most
meteors are small, and
indentations they make are soon eroded away.
About 50,000 years ago, however, a large meteor created
Barringer Meteor Crater in
Arizona,
USA.
Also known simply as
Meteor Crater, the
resulting impact basin spans over a kilometer.
Pictured above, a tour group views the inside of
Barringer Crater
early last year.
In 1920, Barringer Crater was the first feature on Earth to be recognized as an
impact crater.
Today, over 100
terrestrial impact features have been identified over planet Earth.
Computer modeling indicates that some of the
Canyon Diablo impactor melted during the impact
that created Barringer.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: meteor - meteorit - crater
Publications with words: meteor - meteorit - crater
See also: