What caused the Barringer Crater?

Meteor Crater, also called Barringer Crater, formed in a meteorite impact. When mining engineer Daniel Moreau Barringer first saw the crater in 1903, he not only suspected that it formed during a meteorite impact, he also believed he could unearth a huge meteorite mass and market its valuable metal content.

How was Meteor Crater Discovered?

Ejected Evidence In only six seconds, the Canyon Diablo meteorite excavated Meteor Crater, lifting up 175 million tons of sandstone and limestone, tossing much of it outside the crater. These pieces of rock, some as large as houses, helped to prove that the crater was formed by a meteorite impact.

When was Meteor Crater first discovered?

1891
Meteor Crater, near Winslow, Arizona. Discovered in 1891, its age has been variously estimated at between 5,000 and 50,000 years.

What happened to the Barringer meteor?

Barringer Meteor Crater and Its Environmental Effects. Forty-nine thousand years ago, a large 30 to 50 meter diameter iron asteroid impacted the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona. The resulting massive explosion excavated 175 million tons of rock, forming a crater nearly a mile wide and 570 feet deep.

Is Meteor Crater worth seeing?

The Meteor Crater was one of those things you don’t really hear about, but it is an awesome thing to see, and definitely worthy of being considered a Route 66 Landmark. Like most Route 66 tourist stops, there are billboards that lead you to this stop for miles ahead of time.

How big of a crater would an asteroid made?

Typically, materials from space hit Earth at about 20 kilometers (slightly more than 12 miles) per second. Such a high-speed impact produces a crater that is approximately 20 times larger in diameter than the impacting object.

How big was the meteor that killed the dinosaurs?

The six mile-wide asteroid which struck the Earth 66 million years ago and ended the 180 million year-long reign of the dinosaurs, was the cause of what is known as a Chicxulub events.

Who runs Meteor Crater?

Mission. The Barringer Crater Company is a family-owned enterprise dedicated to the preservation of the Barringer Meteorite Crater and to furthering the understanding of the science of meteoritics.

Can you go inside Meteor Crater?

We do not permit our guests to hike down to the bottom of the Crater, primarily for safety reasons. Also, scientific research is being conducted inside the Crater on a year-round basis. There are 3 lookout points with spectacular views of the Crater. There are also great views if you take one of our guided rim tours.

How long does it take to visit Meteor Crater?

We would recommend you set aside 2-3 hours to watch the movie, spend some time in the Interactive Discovery Center, view the crater from the various lookout points and take a guided rim tour. We look forward to your visit!

How big of an asteroid would destroy the earth?

From the amount and distribution of iridium present in the 65-million-year-old “iridium layer”, the Alvarez team later estimated that an asteroid of 10 to 14 km (6 to 9 mi) must have collided with Earth.

Where is the largest meteor crater in the US?

The largest crater in the United States is the Chesapeake Bay Crater in Virginia, just 56 miles across, and it is underwater. The largest terrestrial crater in the US is the Beaverhead Crater in Idaho, 37 miles across, which makes it one of the biggest on Earth.

What is a famous crater formed by a meteor?

Barringer Crater is the best known and best preserved impact crater on Earth. The crater is named after Daniel Barringer who was first to suggest that it was produced by a meteorite impact. The crater is still privately owned by his family and is also simply known as Meteor Crater or Arizona Crater. Measuring about 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) in diameter and 170 meters (570 feet) deep, with a rim 45 meter higher on average than the surrounding plain, the crater lies near Flagstaff, Arizona.

How big was the meteor that made crater lake?

The crater was formed roughly 50,000 years ago when a 98.4 feet (30 meter) wide, iron-rich meteor weighing 100,000 tons struck the Arizona desert at an estimated 12.4 miles (20 km) per second.

How far is Meteor Crater from Flagstaff?

Route Map from Flagstaff, AZ to Meteor Crater. Optimal route map between Flagstaff, AZ and Meteor Crater. This route will be about 44 Miles. The driving route information(distance, estimated time, directions), flight route, traffic information and print the map features are placed on the top right corner of the map.

What caused the Barringer Crater? Meteor Crater, also called Barringer Crater, formed in a meteorite impact. When mining engineer Daniel Moreau Barringer first saw the crater in 1903, he not only suspected that it formed during a meteorite impact, he also believed he could unearth a huge meteorite mass and market its valuable metal content.…