What is Meteor Crater in Arizona and how was it formed?

Meteor Crater is a well-preserved impact crater located in the desert of northern Arizona, approximately 37 miles east of Flagstaff. It was created by an asteroid impact and is notable for its squared-off outline and deep rubble-filled center. Privately owned by the Barringer family, it is widely regarded by science institutes as the best-preserved meteorite crater on Earth.

What we know

• Meteor Crater is located in the desert of northern Arizona, about 37 miles east of Flagstaff and 18 miles west of Winslow. [2]
• The crater is approximately 3,900 feet in diameter, 560 feet deep, and surrounded by a rim rising 148 feet above the surrounding plains, while also being known alternatively by names such as Barringer Crater and Coon Butte. [1, 2]
• The squared-off outline of the crater is believed to be caused by existing regional jointing or cracks in the strata at the impact site. [2] · medium confidence
• Meteor Crater remains privately owned by the Barringer family through the Barringer Crater Company. [2]

Where to go next

• how we knowWhat are the fragments of the impactor called?
• compared withHow does Meteor Crater compare to Odessa Meteor Crater?
• the bigger pictureWhat is the Chicxulub impact structure in Mexico?
• whoWho owns and manages Meteor Crater today?
• whereWhere is the crater located relative to local landmarks?
• an unexpected connectionHow does an Arizona crater connect to a postal convention?The meteorite fragments found around Meteor Crater were officially named after a nearby post office called Canyon Diablo by scientific convention.

Sources

• [1]Meteor Crater (Wikidata Q431381) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Meteor Crater · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Odessa Meteor Crater · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Canyon Diablo (meteorite) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Chicxulub crater · CC BY-SA 4.0