00:01Have 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.
00:55Today, for Asteroid Day, we're counting down some of our favorite impact craters here on Earth, captured by satellites.
01:0510. Nordlinger Ries
01:07Formed 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.
01:19The crater's rim can be seen as a semicircle.
01:22The 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.
01:389. Oaxis Crater
01:41Oaxis 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.
02:00Despite 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.
02:128. Tenuma Crater
02:14Deep 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
02:33was actually rock that had melted by a meteorite impact.
02:37Tenuma Crater is almost 2 kilometers wide.
02:39The rims rise over 100 meters high above the base,
02:43but the bottom of the crater is covered with a thick layer of sediments.
02:46The 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.
02:55Even though it resides in ancient rock, Tenuma is much younger,
03:00ranging in age between 10,000 and 30,000 years old.
03:057. Goss's Bluff
03:08The Goss's Bluff crater in the Northern Territory of Australia
03:11was 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.
03:27Because of the dry climate, the craters haven't weathered away,
03:30nor are they hidden by dense vegetation.
03:336. Psyllian Ring
03:35Around 400 million years ago, an asteroid slammed into the land that is now south-central Sweden.
03:41Its 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.
03:55It is surrounded by a depression, which today is partially filled with water.
04:015. Rotakam
04:04The 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
04:30surrounding plain.
04:324. 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.
04:48Its 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.
05:003. 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.
05:332. Ayuranga Crater
05:35The 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, based on the age of
05:46sedimentary rocks deformed by the impact.
05:49The central highland, or peak of the crater, is surrounded by a sand-filled ring, which is also surrounded by
05:56another ring of rock.
05:57The linear rock ridges that run diagonally are yardangs and are formed by wind erosion.
06:03Here we can clearly see how the wind blows from northeast to southwest.
06:081. 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, surrounded by a rim of smashed and jumbled rocks,
06:25some 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
06:33the 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.
06:43It is well preserved, making it an excellent place to learn about the process of impact cratering.
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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