Meteor Crater (Barringer Crater)
Natural LandscapeDescription
Meteor Crater (Barringer Crater) is a natural landscape in United States, North America. NASA Earth Observatory — Arizona’s Meteor Crater (2021) gives its chronology as “NASA’s 2021 Earth Observatory account describes Meteor Crater as approximately 50,000 years old. This is an attributed approximate impact age, not an exact construction or calendar date.” NASA Earth Observatory — Arizona’s Meteor Crater (2021) also records: “NASA identifies an iron asteroid as the impactor. The surrounding ejecta includes Kaibab limestone and Coconino sandstone; pre-existing fractures in the target rocks helped shape the crater’s partly squared outline.”
Meteor Crater, also called Barringer Crater, lies between Flagstaff and Winslow in northern Arizona. An iron asteroid excavated the roughly 1.2-kilometre-wide depression, throwing limestone and sandstone debris across the surrounding ground. NASA’s 2021 account describes the impact as about 50,000 years old. The rim’s slightly squared outline reflects pre-existing fractures in the rock rather than engineered geometry. The site is used to study impact processes and to train scientists and astronauts in recognising cratered landscapes.
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Claims
Compare the published evidence and its interpretations. “Consensus” records the mainstream account; “Alternative” identifies a competing interpretation, not an equally established conclusion. Estimates and unresolved questions remain qualified in the claim text.
| Field | Consensus | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Date | NASA’s 2021 Earth Observatory account describes Meteor Crater as approximately 50,000 years old. This is an attributed approximate impact age, not an exact construction or calendar date. AI-assisted sourced research and publication delegated by the owner; not individually manually reviewed by a human. • NASA Earth Observatory — Arizona’s Meteor Crater (2021) | No claims found. |
| Purpose | No claims found. | No claims found. |
| Method | NASA identifies an iron asteroid as the impactor. The surrounding ejecta includes Kaibab limestone and Coconino sandstone; pre-existing fractures in the target rocks helped shape the crater’s partly squared outline. AI-assisted sourced research and publication delegated by the owner; not individually manually reviewed by a human. • NASA Earth Observatory — Arizona’s Meteor Crater (2021) | No claims found. |
Age unavailable: no published consensus or alternative date exists for Meteor Crater (Barringer Crater), so no age, totals, or lifespan comparison is shown. CodexMira does not estimate dates for undated records.