Reminders of the Past: Impact Craters

by Aissata Bah, age 12

Our planet is filled with impact craters – reminders of past strikes of meteorites dating back over two billion years.

A meteorite is a huge rock in space that goes through the atmosphere and usually burns up before it hits the ground. However, when a meteorite lands by hitting a hard surface, it creates a big crater which can vaporize to a temperature that melts rocks and leaves gigantic holes.

Some famous craters are Meteor Crater (known as Barringer Crater), Vredefort Crater and the Tycho Crater. The Meteor Crater was the first crater to be discovered. It was formed 50,000 years ago. Vredefort Crater, is the largest crater on Earth. Over time it has changed appearance and is now difficult to see. The Tycho Crater, which hit the moon, is about 108 million years old.

Although impact craters go back more than two billion years they still have a major effect on the Earth today.

[Sources: spaceplace.nasa.gov; solarsystem.nasa.gov]