Strangways crater facts for kids
Landsat image of Strangways crater
|
|
| Impact crater/structure | |
|---|---|
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Diameter | 24–40 km (15–25 mi) |
| Age | 646 ± 42 Ma Neoproterozoic |
| Exposed | Yes |
| Drilled | No |
| Bolide type | Achondrite |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 15°12′S 133°35′E / 15.200°S 133.583°E |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Northern Territory |
 Location in Northern Territory
|
|
The Strangways crater is a very old and large impact structure in the Northern Territory of Australia. It's what's left of a huge hole made when something from space crashed into Earth a long, long time ago. This crater is about 65 kilometres (40 mi) east-south-east of a town called Mataranka.
It got its name from the nearby Strangways River. The area where the crater is located is far away and hard to reach. Scientists believe the impact happened around 646 million years ago.
Contents
What is the Strangways Crater Like?
When you look at the Strangways crater from above, it appears as a circular shape on the ground. For a while, people thought this circular feature was made by a volcano. However, in 1971, scientists found proof that it was actually from an impact. They discovered special rocks called shatter cones and shocked quartz. These kinds of rocks only form when there's a very powerful impact.
How Big Was the Original Crater?
The circular shape you see today is about 16 km (9.9 mi) across. But this is just a small part of the original crater. Over millions of years, wind and water have worn away a lot of the land. This process, called erosion, has made the crater much smaller than it used to be.
Scientists have studied the area and think the original crater was much bigger. They estimate its first rim, or edge, was somewhere between 24–40 km (15–25 mi) wide. The Earth Impact Database, which tracks impact sites, suggests the original crater was about 25 km (16 mi) across.
When Did the Impact Happen?
To find out when the space object hit Earth, scientists used a method called radiometric dating. They studied rocks that melted during the impact. Based on their findings, the impact happened about 646 million years ago. This time period is known as the Neoproterozoic Era.
History of the Crater Site
In 1996, the Strangways crater site was added to a special list called the Register of the National Estate. This list was used to protect important places in Australia. However, this register is no longer used today.
Images for kids
-
A satellite image of the Strangways crater from space.
