Odessa Meteor Crater
Odessa Meteor Crater | |
---|---|
Impact crater/structure | |
Confidence | Confirmed[1] |
Diameter | 550 ft (168 m) |
Depth | 100 ft (30 m) |
Age | 63,500 years |
Exposed | Yes |
Drilled | Yes |
Bolide type | Octahedrite (IAB) |
Location | |
Location | Ector County, West Texas |
Coordinates | 31°45′22″N 102°28′44″W / 31.7560°N 102.4788°W[2] |
Country | United States |
The Odessa Meteor Crater is a meteorite crater in the southwestern part of Ector County, southwest of the city of Odessa of West Texas, United States. It is accessible approximately 3 mi (5 km) south of Interstate 20 at Exit 108 (Moss Road).[1] This is one of three impact crater sites found in Texas, the others being the older and much larger Sierra Madera crater and the Marquez crater.
The
The web site of the
It is 550 ft (168 m) in diameter and the age is estimated to be around 63,500 years (Pleistocene or younger).[6] The crater is exposed to the surface, and was originally about 100 ft (30 m) deep. Because of subsequent infilling by soil and debris, the crater is currently 15 ft (5 m) deep at its lowest point, which provides enough relief to be visible over the surrounding plains, but does not offer the dramatic relief found at the more famous Meteor Crater in Arizona.
The crater itself and the museum curator, Tom Rodman, were featured in the June 1, 2013 broadcast of
See also
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References
- ^ a b "Odessa". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
- USGS. November 30, 1979. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ^ Smith, Julia Cauble. "Meteor crater at Odessa". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
- ^ Anonymous. "Meteor Impact Structures". Center for Energy & Economic Diversification, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
- ^ "National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
Year designated: 1965
- ^ Holliday, V.T., Kring, D.A., Mayer, J.H. and Goble, R.J. 2005. Age and effects of the Odessa meteorite impact, western Texas, USA. Geology 33(12):945-948.
- ^ "Texas Country Reporter 2013 Episode Guide: Odessa Meteor Crater Museum". texascountryreporter.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
External links
Media related to Odessa Meteor Crater at Wikimedia Commons
- Odessa Meteor Crater and Museum website
- UTPB Center for Energy and Economic Diversifications, Odessa Meteor Craters
- Mindat.org - Odessa Craters, Odessa, Ector Co., Texas, USA
- Article about the crater
- Photos of West Texas and the Llano Estacado Archived 2017-08-09 at the Wayback Machine
- Video of the main crater site.