Shoemaker crater facts for kids
| Teague Ring | |
Shoemaker crater from space
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| Impact crater/structure | |
|---|---|
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Diameter | minimum 30 km (19 mi) |
| Age | 1630 ± 5 Ma (contested, see text) Proterozoic |
| Exposed | Yes |
| Drilled | No |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 25°52′S 120°53′E / 25.867°S 120.883°E |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Western Australia |
| District | Mid West |
 Location in Australia
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The Shoemaker crater in Western Australia is a giant hole in the ground. It was made a very long time ago when a huge meteorite crashed into Earth. This crater used to be known as the Teague Ring.
Contents
What is the Shoemaker Crater?
The Shoemaker crater is what scientists call an impact crater. It's the leftover mark from when a space rock, called a meteorite, hit our planet. This impact was so powerful that it left a massive, round scar on the Earth's surface.
Where is the Shoemaker Crater Located?
You can find the Shoemaker crater in a very dry part of central Western Australia. It's about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north-northeast of a town called Wiluna. Because the area is so dry, the crater's shape is still quite clear, even after millions of years.
How Old is the Shoemaker Crater?
Scientists have studied the rocks at the Shoemaker crater. They believe this huge impact happened about 1,630 million years ago. That's 1.63 billion years! This makes it one of the oldest known impact craters on Earth. It formed during a time in Earth's history called the Proterozoic Eon.
Who was Eugene Shoemaker?
The crater is named after a famous space scientist, Eugene Shoemaker. He was a very important planetary geologist. He studied craters on Earth and other planets. He helped us understand how these giant holes are formed by impacts from space.
Images for kids
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The Shoemaker impact site
