10 Impact Craters On Earth In Amazing Views From Space

Space.com

Satellites have captured amazing views views of these craters on Earth. ESA explains.   Nördlinger Ries, Ouarkziz Crater, Tenoumer Crater, Gosses Bluff, Siljan Ring, Roter Kamm, Manicouagan Crater, Shoemaker Crater, Aorounga Crater, Meteor Crater.  Credit: ESA

Transcript

00:00Have you ever wondered what an impact crater looks like from space?

00:05Craters are inevitably part of being a rocky planet.

00:09They occur on every planetary body in our solar system, no matter the size.

00:14By studying impact craters and the meteorites that cause them,

00:18we can learn more about the processes and geology that shape our entire solar system.

00:23Over the past two decades, ESA has tracked and analyzed asteroids that travel close to Earth.

00:29ESA's fly-eye telescopes will survey the sky for these near-Earth objects,

00:34using a unique compound eye design to capture wide-field images.

00:39This will enhance the detection of potentially hazardous asteroids.

00:43ESA's Hera spacecraft, launching later this year, will closely explore asteroids

00:48and improve our understanding of these celestial bodies.

00:51This will help us better prepare for potential future asteroid deflection efforts.

00:56Today, for Asteroid Day, we're counting down some of our favorite impact craters here on Earth, captured by satellites.

01:05Number 10. Nordlinger Ries.

01:08Formed around 15 million years ago, Germany's Ries crater didn't become apparent until the 1960s.

01:14Prior to that time, many geologists had suspected that the crater had been formed by volcanic activity.

01:20The crater's rim can be seen as a semicircle.

01:23The medieval town of Nordlingen was built in its depression.

01:27The impact led to the creation of over 70,000 tons of microscopic diamonds.

01:32The stone buildings of the town were constructed almost entirely with diamond-encrusted rock.

01:38Number 9. Oaxis Crater.

01:41The Oaxis Impact Crater is located in northwest Algeria, close to the border with Morocco.

01:47Around 3.5 kilometers across, the crater was created when a meteor hit Earth less than 70 million years ago,

01:54when dinosaurs still roamed the planet.

01:57Originally called Tindulf, the crater is now heavily eroded.

02:01Despite this, its circular shape still remains evident due to the exposure of ancient sedimentary rock layers,

02:07which create ridgelines that run roughly northwest to southeast.

02:12Number 8. Tenuma Crater.

02:15Deep within the Sahara Desert lies one of the best preserved craters on Earth.

02:19It was long debated whether the Tenuma Crater was formed by a volcano or meteorite.

02:24Scattered rocks around the crater created the impression of an ancient volcano.

02:28But a closer examination of the structure revealed the crater's hardened lava was actually rock that had melted by a meteorite impact.

02:37Tenuma Crater is almost 2 kilometers wide.

02:40The rims rise over 100 meters high above the base,

02:43but the bottom of the crater is covered with a thick layer of sediments.

02:47The crater sits in a vast plain of rocks that are so ancient,

02:50they were deposited hundreds of millions of years before the first dinosaurs walked Earth.

02:56Even though it resides in ancient rock, Tenuma is much younger, ranging at age between 10,000 and 30,000 years old.

03:05Number 7. Goss's Bluff.

03:08The Goss's Bluff crater in the Northern Territory of Australia was most likely formed 140 million years ago

03:15by the impact of a large comet or meteorite slamming into Earth.

03:19It is one of the most studied of the Australian impact craters.

03:23Australia is a very good place to observe and study impact craters.

03:26Because of the dry climate, the craters haven't weathered away, nor are they hidden by dense vegetation.

03:32Number 6. Psyllian Ring.

03:35Around 400 million years ago, an asteroid slammed into the land that is now south-central Sweden.

03:42Its impact left quite a mark.

03:44After millions of years of erosion, the scar it left is still recognizable, especially from above.

03:50Measuring more than 50 kilometers across, the Psyllian Ring is the largest known impact crater in Europe.

03:56It is surrounded by a depression, which today is partially filled with water.

04:01Number 5. Rotakam.

04:05The Rotakam impact crater is found in the Namib Desert in southwest Namibia.

04:10According to geologists, the crater was formed by a meteorite around the size of a large vehicle

04:15that collided with Earth around 5 million years ago.

04:18The crater is around 2.5 kilometers wide and is around 130 meters deep.

04:24It is clearly visible in contrast with the rust-red dunes, with its rims rising over 50 meters above the surrounding plain.

04:32Number 4. Maniquagon Crater.

04:34In southeast Quebec lies one of the world's oldest impact craters.

04:39The Maniquagon Crater was formed 214 million years ago when an asteroid 5 kilometers wide struck what is now Canada.

04:47Its concentric structure results from the shock waves transmitted by the impact.

04:52The structure is around 100 kilometers across, with its 70 kilometer diameter ring its most prominent feature.

04:59Number 3. Shoemaker Crater.

05:02Formerly known as Teague Ring, the Shoemaker impact crater is located in Western Australia

05:08and was named after Eugene Shoemaker, a planetary geologist and pioneer in impact crater studies.

05:15The almost circular shape of the Shoemaker impact site is around 30 kilometers in diameter

05:20and is defined by concentric rings formed in the sedimentary rocks, seen in dark brown.

05:26The precise age of the impact is unknown, but estimated to be around 1.6 billion years old.

05:32Number 2. Ayuranga Crater.

05:36The Ayuranga Crater in northern Chad is one of the best preserved impact structures in the world.

05:41It was thought to be created by a meteorite impact around 340 million years ago,

05:45based on the age of sedimentary rocks deformed by the impact.

05:49The central highland or peak of the crater is surrounded by a sand-filled ring,

05:54which is also surrounded by another ring of rock.

05:57The linear rock ridges that run diagonally are yardanks and are formed by wind erosion.

06:03Here we can clearly see how the wind blows from northeast to southwest.

06:08Number 1. Media Crater.

06:10The Media Crater, also known as Baringa Crater, is located in the desert of northern Arizona.

06:16It's around 1,200 meters in diameter and 180 meters deep,

06:21surrounded by a rim of smashed and jumbled rocks, some the size of small houses.

06:27One of its main features is its squared-off outline, believed to be caused by cracks in the strata at the impact site.

06:34Discovered in 1891, the crater's age has been variously estimated to be around 50,000 years old.

06:41The crater is a sign of active research. It is well preserved, making it an excellent place to learn about the process of impact cratering.

06:49Thanks for watching. Let us know in the comments below which impact craters you'd like to see from space.

06:54Until the next time.

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