This image shows Gosses Bluff, an impact crater sandwiched between the Macdonnell Range to the north and the James Range to the south in Australia’s Northern Territory—it is about 160 km west of Alice Springs. It is one of the most studied of the Australian impact craters. The impactor, an asteroid or comet, was probably about 1 km in diameter and crashed into the earth about 142 million years ago.
Published Jun 15, 2003
Throughout their histories, both the Moon and Earth have been bombarded by meteorites and asteroids, which often leave behind dramatic impact craters.
Published Aug 13, 2009
Usually the lake within Pingualuit Crater freezes by mid-September. In 2012, its circular blue surface still appeared to be free of ice in late-November.
Published Nov 29, 2012
Pingualuit Crater holds a lake about 267 meters (876 feet) deep. Because this lake has no connection to any other water body, inflows from other lakes cannot contaminate Pingualuit’s sediments.
Published Feb 10, 2008
Deep in the Congo, the Luizi Crater was uncovered though a combination of satellite images and field surveys.
Published Jun 24, 2012
This stunning photo came back to Earth with the Apollo 8 astronauts in late December 1968.
Published Nov 27, 2008
Acquired October 10, 2007, this false-color image shows Chiyli Crater in western Kazakhstan. Vegetation appears red, and clings primarily to riverbanks near the crater. Sunlight illuminates south-facing slopes, including the central peak of the crater.
Published Jan 31, 2010
Acquired April 30, 2010, this natural-color image shows Goat Paddock Crater in northwestern Australia. The slightly elliptical crater spans roughly 5 kilometers.
Published May 23, 2010
When the Apollo 11 astronauts left the surface of the Moon on July 21, 1969, they brought home samples of solar wind particles, lunar rocks and dirt, and a big helping of perspective.
Published Jul 20, 2019
Acquired December 3, 2010, this natural-color image shows Tin Bider Crater in Algeria. Spanning 6 kilometers, the crater rises above nearby land to the south.
Published Dec 19, 2010
