Odessa Meteor Crater Facts for Kids It is about 17 feet (5 metres) deep and 560 feet (170 metres) in diameter; its rim rises only 2 to 3 feet (less than a metre) above the surrounding area. Sierra Madera, a low mountain near Fort Stockton, was created by a meteor, long before Odessa. It has also been featured on television shows like Meteorite Men, and The Texas Bucket List. The husband defended her with "if you had to deal with the public you would behave that way too" What? There were iron rocks at the site. The environment was arid or semiarid at the time of impact based on characteristics of soils on the surrounding landscape. Odessa | AMNH - American Museum of Natural History The Museum was opened on October 1, 2002. It was created 20,000 to 50,000 years ago by a barrage of meteors that hit about 10 miles west of downtown Odessa. Over 1500 meteorites have been recovered from the surrounding area over the years, the largest of which weighed approximately 300lb (136kg), but excavations in the main crater confirm that there is no meteorite mass underground and probably never has been. But about 60,000 years ago, when woolly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers roamed the Earth, an asteroid slammed into what is now known as West Texas. The museum features a large main room with seating provided. The curators there Love explaining and their job .. Much more interesting. On October 1, 2002, the museum was officially opened. (2005) to the Odessa Meteor Crater - odessahistory.com Most geologists said it was volcanic. Many residents of Odessa claim they never knew it was in their area, even if they were born and raised here! : Geological Society of America, 1940). Dating by optically stimulated luminescence indicates that it was produced immediately prior to ca. Change). On sale now, while supplies last. Weather for Odessa Meteor Crater, Texas, USA - timeanddate.com [1] You scared my grandchildren. The crater can be visited from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. any day of the year. Odessa Craters Washington Trails Association Researcher visits the Odessa Meteor Crater hoping it will help But larger meteors can fundamentally alter life on Earth. They indicate that the structure of the main crater, because it was one of the earliest to be recognized and studied, is now used to name similar impact sites on a worldwide basis. Were working to get it back to full power. But Farnocchia said it is good to have plans in place if an astronomer suddenly spots an asteroid hurtling toward a city. We need your support because we are a non-profit that relies upon contributions from our community in order to record and preserve the history of our state. Entrance 2 miles south of Interstate 20 on Meteor Crater Road In 1939 nearly 1,500 nickel-iron meteorite fragments were collected from the ground around the crater and on its rim. Three smaller impact-crater sites were found nearby in 1939. Although scientists state the largest crater was originally 170 feet deep, due to sediment build up and time, the crater has filled up to 6 feet below the surrounding terrain. Visitor Center - Odessa Meteor Crater Museum If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Hotels near Odessa Meteor Crater and Museum: Restaurants near Odessa Meteor Crater and Museum: This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Crater has been featured in several publications such as Texas Curiosities (Kelso & Buckner), and Mysterious America (Loren Coleman). Researchers later realized the huge meteorite must have exploded on impact. Three smaller impact-crater sites were found nearby in 1939. Animals within a 1-1.5-km-diameter area were probably killed. Odessa Meteor Crater Quoting Glenn Justice, this is the second largest crater in the United It is estimated to have fallen 20,000 years ago. Age and effects of the Odessa meteorite impact, western Texas, USA She will yell at you ,LOUDLY and your children will skake in fear. It's something just not much. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Read our. Machinery and lumber were bought for construction and operation of a shaft and a road. Handbook of Texas Online, 1,668 were here. It is 550 ft (168 m) in diameter and the age is estimated to be around 63,500 years ( Pleistocene or younger). If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. [1] This is one of three impact crater sites found in Texas, the others being the older and much larger Sierra Madera crater and the Marquez crater. 38 1.7 ka; and playa muds with a wind-blown silt component younger than 36 ka. 38 1.7 ka; and playa muds with a wind-blown silt component younger than 36 ka. UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=29144482569&partnerID=8YFLogxK, UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=29144482569&partnerID=8YFLogxK, Powered by Pure, Scopus & Elsevier Fingerprint Engine 2023 Elsevier B.V, We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content. Stargazers mark their calendars for known meteor showers the Perseid, the Leonid. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Our displays showcase Odessa Meteorites, as well as others from around the world. It is accessible approximately 3 mi (5 km) south of Interstate 20 at Exit 108 (Moss Road). They indicate that the structure of the main crater, because it was one of the earliest to be recognized and studied, is now used to name similar impact sites on a worldwide basis. 38 1.7 ka; and playa muds with a wind-blown silt component younger than 36 ka. It is accessible approximately 3 mi (5 km) south of Interstate 20 at Exit 108 (Moss Road). By Jennifer Nalewicki June 30, 2023. 10 A.M - 5 P.M Sun. Together they form a unique fingerprint. E. H. Sellards and C. L. Baker, Economic Geology of Texas (University of Texas Bulletin 3401, Austin: Bureau of Economic Geology, 1934). Sun & moon times today, Odessa Meteor Crater, Texas, USA - timeanddate.com The bottom of the crater is only about 6 feet (2 meters) below the plain and the rim rises only about 6 feet above the plain. Odessa, TX 79763. It happened some 63,000 years ago. It is 550ft (168m) in diameter and the age is estimated to be around 63,500years (Pleistocene or younger). During the Ice Age, about 63,000 years ago, material from outer space slammed into the Earth. Every dollar helps. Smaller objects are much fainter, according to Davide Farnocchia, a navigational engineer with NASAs Center for Near Earth Objects Studies. Out of the northwest, an object came blazing out of the sky. This natural National Landmark is an outer-space experience. The environment was arid or semiarid at the time of impact based on characteristics of soils on the surrounding landscape. Losiak is a Fulbright scholar currently working with the Lunar Planetary Institute in Houston and the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona. Odessa Meteor Crater and Museum - Tripadvisor Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. 53 2 ka; wind-dominated silt ca. 63.5 4.5 ka. Pointing at stones emerging from the ground like rows of jagged teeth, she explained that smaller asteroids are still powerful. It's shallow just 15 feet deep. The Odessa meteorite craters (Texas, United States) include a main crater (;160 and is still covered with ejecta that extends onto diameter, ;30 m deep) plus four smaller meteorite craters. More, Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. We are a community-supported, non-profit organization and we humbly ask for your support because the careful and accurate recording of our history has never been more important. The lady everyone is talking about: We had the same problem. Longitude. It is accessible approximately 3mi (5km) south of Interstate 20 at Exit 108 (Moss Road). West Texas! Lady who ran it. Animals within a 1-1.5-km-diameter area were probably killed. Four smaller craters were found near the main crater. 53 2 ka; wind-dominated silt ca. This is only the second well-dated Pleistocene hypervelocity impact crater in North America.". Updated: 8:17 AM CDT May 3, 2023. However, Google Odessa meteor crater and it should give you the phone number for The Visitor Center to verify. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. 5599 Meteor Crater Rd. Indeed, the Moon was created when a Mars-sized object struck a glancing blow to the Earth. The Handbook of Texas Online describes the Odessa meteor crater as the largest of several smaller craters in the immediate area that were formed by the impact of thousands of octahedrites (an iron metallic type) that fell in prehistoric times.[3]. The destructive power that minor asteroids can unleash amazes Losiak, which makes exploring craters thrilling for her. The impact caused severe damage within 2 km and produced >1000 km/hr winds and thermal pulse. I wish they would dig it back out. Trying not to appear in the least excited before these cow-men is a job, to say the least, Daniel Barringer Jr. wrote to his father in June 1926. Marfa Public Radio | [1] This is one of three impact crater sites found in Texas, the others being the older and much larger Sierra Madera crater and the Marquez crater. About: Odessa Meteor Crater - DBpedia Association We also have Texas Horned Frogs and Jack Rabbits. Sediment filling the crater includes impact breccias produced at the time of impact; wind-dominated silts with minor amounts of pond sediments deposited ca. The crater was blasted 50,000 years ago from a meteorite. It is estimated to be about 20,000 years old. more, Pretty neat little quick stop off right off the highway. Thank you Ted Brattstrom of Hawaii for the link. [6] The crater is exposed to the surface, and was originally about 100ft (30m) deep. Your rude ,insensitive, offensive. The crater is large, 600 feet in diameter, but not as large as what you'd see in Arizona. Gated after hours. The main crater was sampled by coring (to 22 m depth) to better understand its origin and history. The Odessa Meteor Crater is a meteorite crater in the southwestern part of Ector County , southwest of the city of Odessa of West Texas , United States . Only 2 miles off the interstate as well. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in Texas. Several unsuccessful attempts were made before and after World War II to build a park at the site. We were run off by the fat lady who runs the place what a witch. Geologists were initially skeptical the Earth's landscape was altered by such abrupt events, as opposed to slow processes. It is 550ft (168m) in diameter and the age is estimated to be around 63,500years (Pleistocene or younger). Odessa Meteor Crater - Wikiwand Odessa Meteor Crater - Wikipedia She plans on returning to West Texas next year with a team of researchers to scour the Odessa Meteor Crater to see what it will reveal. He only noted that the depression was different from the surrounding terrain. The Odessa Meteor Crater is a meteorite crater in the southwestern part of Ector County, southwest of the city of Odessa of West Texas, United States. E. H. Sellards, "Odessa Meteor Craters," Bulletin of the Geological Society of America 52 (1941). The reason the crater is shallow is for thousands of years sediment and soil has washed into the crater. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. The impact of the meteorites displaced Cretaceous limestone, lifting it forty-five to fifty feet above its original position, folding it into a vertical position, and faulting it. The crater is exposed to the surface, and was originally about 100 ft (30 m) deep. Microdiamonds' discovered at French winery point to ancient meteor He'd just visited the Odessa crater, and he thought he'd seen paydirt. Geology 33(12):945-948. Barringer was convinced it was from a meteor's impact. Museum is closed on Monday May 2014: My family and I stopped by while returning from a family trip; a spur of the moment deal. It was cool to see a part of natural history up close. The Odessa crater helped change our understanding. Out of no where this white SUV came barreling down the road nose to nose with our car. Charles Hemann is president of the West Texas Astronomers. Hours & Info. After his discovery scientists from many places came to study the crater. Yet, in his theory of meteor impact, he's been vindicated. Have you read the reviews about you ruining people's adventures? Address: Meteor Crater Rd, Odessa, TX Directions: I-20 exit 108, then drive south two miles on Meteor Crater Rd/Moss Ave. The Odessa crater might be unassuming, but it puts our place in the universe in perspective. Section 107 related to Copyright and Fair Use for Non-Profit educational institutions, which permits the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), to utilize copyrighted materials to further scholarship, education, and inform the public. 5599 Meteor Crater Rd. There is a trail around and through the crater. In 2021, NASA will test a defense mission launching a spacecraft to collide with an asteroid and change its trajectory. 1 Day: Transnistria and Odessa From Moldova Chisinau. The impact caused severe damage within 2 km and produced >1000 km/hr winds and thermal pulse. The largest crater is filled by wash and wind-blown material to within nine to fourteen feet of the rim. She has wanted to visit Odessas crater for years, but until recently she had to postpone her trip to West Texas. Odessa Meteor Crater, west Texas - American Southwest The June solstice (summer solstice) in Odessa Meteor Crater is at 9:57 am on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Hiking Odessa Craters. The site has been designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service,[5] and a small information area and nature trail has been set up on-site for a self-guided tour. Smaller asteroids are much more likely to strike Earth than larger ones which the Russian city of Chelyabinsk found out in 2013. The Odessa Meteor Crater is a meteorite crater in the southwestern part of Ector County, southwest of the city of Odessa of West Texas, United States. It's free too! AGE: 25,000 - 50,000 years. The web site of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB, Center for Energy and Economic Diversification), identifies five craters at the Odessa site and shows a distribution map of the meteorite fragments recovered from the area. 1-432-381-0946 (All hours are Central Standard Time) Tues. - Sat. Though the museum is pretty good. The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry. Visitor center has history of meteorites from around the globe not just at that location Age and effects of the Odessa meteorite impact, western Texas, USA It is accessible approximately 3mi (5km) south of Interstate 20 at Exit 108 (Moss Road). Animals within a 1-1.5-km-diameter area were probably killed. The crater is filled with sand to a maximum depth of 30 feet. (LogOut/ (3) There were hints that both craters were . This short loop encompasses a host of different craters, all formed during 15,000 year old floods. Rocks jut out of the ground at the Odessa Meteor Crater, where there are signs warning visitors to watch out for snakes and pumpjacks rocking back and forth in the distance. Waco, TX: Strecker Museum Complex. He found not only the missing bovine, but he also stumbled upon an odd depression in the landscape, now known to be the Odessa impact crater. This is only the second well-dated Pleistocene hypervelocity impact crater in North America. What restaurants are near Odessa Meteor Crater and Museum? More than 3,000 lbs of meteorite material have been found nearby. Losiak said, Only if we know exactly how those things were happening in the past, we are able to avoid [a] similar fate in the future.. Odessa Meteor Crater and Museum (Midland) - What to Know BEFORE You Go. Some like the Odessa meteor reach the ground. Thanks to Knight for submitting this question. Situations like the asteroid that exploded over Russia are a once in a lifetime event. Trip Planning Caution: RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. Updates? author = "Holliday, {Vance T.} and Kring, {David A.} The crater is widely unknown. A nearby Texas historical plaque claims that the bulk of the space rock is still buried 170 feet below the surface. [7]. Die Odessa-Meteor-Krater sind Impaktkrater im Sdwesten der Stadt Odessa, Ector County, Texas, USA. In 1892 Julius D. Henderson, a local rancher, discovered the depression while searching for a lost calf. The main crater was sampledby coring (to 22 m depth) to better understand its origin and history. Tourist Train of Tarragona. Easy to get to, right off the interstate, only takes <10 minutes to get there from town and maybe 40 minutes to take in the whole thing.