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?

00:06Craters are inevitably part of being a rocky planet.

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

00:15By studying impact craters and the meteorites that cause them, we can learn more about the

00:19processes and geology that shape our entire solar system.

00:24Over the past two decades, ESA has tracked and analysed asteroids that travel close to

00:28Earth.

00:29ESA's FlyEye telescopes will survey the sky for these near-Earth objects, using a

00:35unique compound eye design to capture wide-field images.

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

00:42ESA's HERA spacecraft, launching later this year, will closely explore asteroids and improve

00:48our 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 favourite impact craters

01:00here on Earth, captured by satellites.

01:0410.

01:06Nordlinger Ries

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

01:12the 1960s.

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

01:19activity.

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 tonnes of microscopic diamonds.

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

01:389.

01:39Oaxes Crater

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

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

01:53years ago, when dinosaurs still roamed the planet.

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

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

02:06rock layers, which create ridgelines that run roughly northwest to southeast.

02:128.

02:13Tinouma Crater

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

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

02:25Scattered rocks around the crater created the impression of an ancient volcano.

02:29But a closer examination of the structure revealed the crater's hardened lava was

02:33actually rock that had melted by a meteorite impact.

02:37Tinouma Crater is almost 2 km wide.

02:40The rims rise over 100 m 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, they were deposited hundreds

02:51of millions of years before the first dinosaurs walked Earth.

02:56Even though it resides in ancient rock, Tinouma is much younger, ranging in age between 10,000

03:02and 30,000 years old.

03:057.

03:06Gosses Bluff

03:08The Gosses Bluff Crater in the Northern Territory of Australia was most likely formed a

03:13hundred and forty million years ago by the impact of a large comet or meteorite slamming

03:18into 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.

03:27Because of the dry climate, the craters haven't weathered away, nor are they hidden by dense

03:31vegetation.

03:326.

03:33Silian Ring

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

03:41Sweden.

03:42Its impact left quite a mark.

03:44After millions of years of erosion, the scar it left is still recognisable, especially

03:49from above.

03:50Measuring more than 50 kilometres across, the Silian Ring is the largest known impact

03:55crater in Europe.

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

04:015.

04:02Rotterdam

04:05The Rotterdam 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

04:14vehicle that collided with Earth around 5 million years ago.

04:18The crater is around 2.5 kilometres wide and is around 130 metres deep.

04:24It is clearly visible in contrast with the Russ Red Dunes, with its rims rising over

04:2950 metres above the surrounding plain.

04:324.

04:33Manicouagan Crater

04:35In southeast Quebec lies one of the world's oldest impact craters.

04:39The Manicouagan Crater was formed 214 million years ago when an asteroid 5 kilometres wide

04:46struck what is now Canada.

04:48Its concentric structure results from the shock waves transmitted by the impact.

04:53The structure is around 100 kilometres across, with its 70-kilometre diameter ring its most

04:58prominent feature.

04:593.

05:00Shoemaker Crater

05:03Formerly known as Teague Ring, the Shoemaker Impact Crater is located in Western Australia

05:09and 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 kilometres in diameter

05:21and is defined by concentric rings formed in the sedimentary rocks, seen in dark brown.

05:27The precise age of the impact is unknown, but estimated to be around 1.6 billion years old.

05:332.

05:34Ayuranga Crater

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

05:40the world.

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

05:46on 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, which

05:55is also surrounded by another ring of rock.

05:58The linear rock ridges that run diagonally are yardangs, and are formed by wind erosion.

06:04Here we can clearly see how the wind blows from northeast to southwest.

06:081.

06:09Meteor Crater

06:10The Meteor Crater, also known as Barringer Crater, is located in the desert of northern

06:16Arizona.

06:17It's around 1,200 metres in diameter and 180 metres deep, surrounded by a rim of smashed

06:23and jumbled rocks, some the size of small houses.

06:28One of its main features is its squared-off outline, believed to be caused by cracks in

06:32the strata at the impact site.

06:35Discovered in 1891, the crater's age has been variously estimated to be around 50,000

06:40years old.

06:41The crater is a site of active research.

06:43It is well-preserved, making it an excellent place to learn about the process of impact

06:48cratering.

06:50Thanks for watching.

06:51Let us know in the comments below which impact craters you'd like to see from space.

06:55Until the next time!

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