Contents |
What's New |
Image Index |
Copyright |
Puzzles |
Posters |
ScienceViews |
Search |
| PHOTO INDEX OF PRIMARY TARGETS |
|---|
COMETS
EARTH
JUPITER
KUIPER BELT
MARS
MERCURY
METEORITES
NEPTUNE
OORT CLOUD
PLUTO
SATURN
SOLAR SYSTEM
SPACE
SUN
URANUS
VENUS
ORDER PRINTS
| OTHER PHOTO INDEXES |
|---|
PHOTO CATEGORIES
SCIENCEVIEWS
AMPHIBIANS
BIRDS
BUGS
FINE ART
FOSSILS
INDIAN
INDIAN
MAMMALS
OTHER
PARKS
PLANTS
RELIGIOUS
REPTILES
ROCKS & MINERALS
SCIENCEVIEWS PRINTS
 |
Chicxulub, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
|
Related Document
Download Options
| Name | Type | Width x Height | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| chicxulb.gif | GIF | 512 x 512 | 103K |
| Location | 21°20'N, 89°30'W |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 170 km |
| Age | 64.98 million years |
This three-dimensional map of local gravity and magnetic field variations shows a multiringed structure called Chicxulub named after a village located near its center. The impact basin is buried by several hundred meters of sediment, hiding it from view. This image shows the basin viewed obliquely from approximately 60° above the surface looking north, with artificial lighting from the south. The image covers 88 to 90.5° west longitude and 19.5 to 22.5° north latitude. NASA scientists believe that an asteroid 10 to 20 kilometers (6 to 12 miles) in diameter produced this impact basin. The asteroid hit a geologically unique, sulfur-rich region of the Yucatan Peninsula and kicked up billions of tons of sulfur and other materials into the atmosphere. Darkness prevailed for about half a year after the collision. This caused global temperatures to plunge near freezing. Half of the species on Earth became extinct including the dinosaurs.