Odessa Meteor Crater: Difference between revisions

Odessa Meteor Crater
Odessa Meteor Crater
	Meteor crater and museum
Impact crater/structure
Confidence	Confirmed
Diameter	550 ft (168 m)
Depth	100 ft (30 m)
Age	63,500 years
Exposed	Yes
Drilled	Yes
Bolide type	Octahedrite (IAB)
Location
Location	Ector County, West Texas
Coordinates	31°45′22″N 102°28′44″W / 31.7560°N 102.4788°W
Country	United States
	Odessa Meteor Crater Odessa Meteor Crater in Texas

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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 is accessible approximately 3 mi (5 km) south of Interstate 20 at Exit 108 (Moss Road).^[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.

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 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.^[4] The recoveries have generally come from an area to the north and northwest of the main crater site, with only a few found to the south. 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. Over 1500 meteorites have been recovered from the surrounding area over the years, the largest of which weighed approximately 300 lb (136 kg), but excavations in the main crater confirm that there is no meteorite mass underground and probably never has been. 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.

It is 550 ft (168 m) in diameter and the age is estimated to be around 63,500 years (Pleistocene or younger).^[6] The crater is exposed to the surface, and was originally about 100 ft (30 m) deep. Because of subsequent infilling by soil and debris, the crater is currently 15 ft (5 m) deep at its lowest point, which provides enough relief to be visible over the surrounding plains, but does not offer the dramatic relief found at the more famous Meteor Crater in Arizona.

The crater itself and the museum curator, Tom Rodman, were featured in the June 1, 2013 broadcast of Bob Phillips's syndicated television series Texas Country Reporter.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b "Odessa". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
^ "Feature Detail Report for: Odessa Meteor Crater". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). USGS. November 30, 1979. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
^ Smith, Julia Cauble. "Meteor crater at Odessa". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
^ Anonymous. "Meteor Impact Structures". Center for Energy & Economic Diversification, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
^ "National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-30. Year designated: 1965
^ Holliday, V.T., Kring, D.A., Mayer, J.H. and Goble, R.J. 2005. Age and effects of the Odessa meteorite impact, western Texas, USA. Geology 33(12):945-948.
^ "Texas Country Reporter 2013 Episode Guide: Odessa Meteor Crater Museum". texascountryreporter.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2013.

External links

Media related to Odessa Meteor Crater at Wikimedia Commons

[DB-1] "Odessa". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2016-12-10.

[GNIS-2] "Feature Detail Report for: Odessa Meteor Crater". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). USGS. November 30, 1979. Retrieved September 22, 2014.

[Handbook-3] Smith, Julia Cauble. "Meteor crater at Odessa". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 5 November 2009.

[4] Anonymous. "Meteor Impact Structures". Center for Energy & Economic Diversification, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Retrieved 5 November 2009.

[5] "National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-30. Year designated: 1965

[6] Holliday, V.T., Kring, D.A., Mayer, J.H. and Goble, R.J. 2005. Age and effects of the Odessa meteorite impact, western Texas, USA. Geology 33(12):945-948.

[7] "Texas Country Reporter 2013 Episode Guide: Odessa Meteor Crater Museum". texascountryreporter.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2013.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Impact crater in west Texas}}
-{{Geobox|Protected Area
+{{Infobox terrestrial impact site
-| name = Odessa Meteor Crater
+| name      = Odessa Meteor Crater
-| category =  National Natural Landmark
+| other_name =
-| image = Odessa Meteor Crater 3.JPG
-| image_caption = Meteor Crater and museum
+| photo = Odessa Meteor Crater 3.JPG
-| image_size = 300
+| photo_size = 300
+| photo_alt =
-| country = {{flag|United States}}
+| photo_caption = Meteor crater and museum
-| state = {{flag|Texas}}
-| region = [[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]]
+| location = [[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]], [[West Texas]]
+| map = USA Texas
-| district = [[Permian Basin (North America)|Permian Basin]]
-| elevation = 930
+| map_alt =
+| map_caption = Odessa Meteor Crater in Texas
-| lat_d = 31
-| lat_m = 45
+| map_size = 300
+| label = Odessa Meteor Crater
-| lat_s = 22.02
-| lat_NS = N
+| label_position = right
+| coordinates = {{coords|31.7560|-102.4788|region:US-TX_type:landmark_scale:100000|display=inline,title}}
-| long_d = 102
+| coordinates_ref = <ref name=GNIS/>
-| long_m = 28
+| confidence = Confirmed<ref name=DB>{{Cite Earth Impact DB | name = Odessa | accessdate = 2016-12-10}}</ref>
-| long_s = 44.06
+| diameter = {{convert|550|ft|0|abbr=on}}
-| long_EW =W
+| depth = {{convert|100|ft|0|abbr=on}}
-| area =
-| geology = [[Meteor Crater]]
+| age = 63,500 years
+| exposed = Yes
-| established = [[National Natural Landmark|U.S. National Natural Landmark]]
-| date =  1965
+| drilled = Yes
-| management =  [[Ector County]]
+| bolide = [[Octahedrite]] (IAB)
-| visitation =
+| topo =
-| visitation_date =
+| access =
+| country = [[United States]]
-| iucn_category =
+| state =
-| map = Crater sign 2004.jpg
+| district =
-| map_caption = Sketch of geological cross section
-| map_background =
-| map_locator =
-| map_locator_x =
-| map_locator_y =
-| website =
-{{designation list |embed=yes |designation1=NNL |designation1_date=1965}}
 }}
-[[Image:Another view of Odessa Meteor Crater DSCN1362.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Another view of the Odessa Meteor Crater (2014)]]
+[[File:Odessa meteorite.jpg|thumb|70&nbsp;pound sample of the meteorite|left]]
+[[File:Crater sign 2004.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|left]]
+The '''Odessa Meteor Crater''' is a [[meteorite]] [[impact crater|crater]] in the southwestern part of [[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]], southwest of the city of [[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]] of [[West Texas]], [[United States]]. It is accessible approximately {{convert|3|mi|0|abbr=on}} south of [[Interstate 20]] at Exit 108 (Moss Road).<ref name=DB/> 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]].
+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 [[octahedrite]]s (an iron metallic type) that fell in prehistoric times.<ref name=Handbook>{{cite web| url= http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rym01|title=Meteor crater at Odessa |work=Handbook of Texas Online|access-date=5 November 2009 |author= Smith, Julia Cauble}}</ref>
-[[Image:Meteor Crater Museum building, Odessa, TX DSCN1358.JPG|200px|right|thumb|The museum building]]
-The '''Odessa Meteor Crater''' is a [[meteorite]] [[impact crater|crater]] in the southwestern part of [[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]], southwest of the city of [[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]] of [[West Texas]], [[United States]]. It is accessible approximately 3&nbsp;miles (5&nbsp;km) south of [[Interstate 20]] at Exit 108 (Moss Road).<ref>{{Cite Earth Impact DB | name = Odessa | accessdate = 2008-12-30 }}</ref> 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]].
+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.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.utpb.edu/ceed/geology-resources/west-texas-geology/meteor-impact-structures |title=Meteor Impact Structures |work= Center for Energy & Economic Diversification, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin |access-date=5 November 2009 |author= Anonymous}}</ref>  The recoveries have generally come from an area to the north and northwest of the main crater site, with only a few found to the south. 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. Over 1500 meteorites have been recovered from the surrounding area over the years, the largest of which weighed approximately {{convert|300|lb|0|abbr=on}}, but excavations in the main crater confirm that there is no meteorite mass underground and probably never has been. The site has been designated as a [[National Natural Landmark]] by the [[National Park Service]],<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=ODME-TX|title=National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service) |website=www.nps.gov| language=en|access-date=2019-03-30| quote="Year designated: 1965"}}</ref> and a small information area and nature trail has been set up on-site for a self-guided tour.
-[[File:Odessa meteorite.jpg|thumb|70&nbsp;pounds sample of the meteorite|left]]
-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 [[octahedrite]]s (an iron metallic type) that fell in prehistoric times.<ref name=Handbook>{{cite web|url= http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/rym1.html|title=Meteor crater at Odessa |work=Handbook of Texas Online|accessdate=5 November 2009 |author= Smith, Julia Cauble}}</ref>
+It is {{convert|550|ft|0|abbr=on}} in [[diameter]] and the age is estimated to be around 63,500&nbsp;years ([[Pleistocene]] or younger).<ref>Holliday, V.T., Kring, D.A., Mayer, J.H. and Goble, R.J. 2005. Age and effects of the Odessa meteorite impact, western Texas, USA. Geology 33(12):945-948.</ref>  The crater is exposed to the surface, and was originally about {{convert|100|ft|0|abbr=on}} deep. Because of subsequent infilling by soil and debris, the crater is currently {{convert|15|ft|0|abbr=on}} deep at its lowest point, which provides enough relief to be visible over the surrounding plains, but does not offer the dramatic relief found at the more famous [[Meteor Crater]] in Arizona.
-The web site of the [[University of Texas of the Permian Basin]] (UTPB, Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED)), identifies five craters at the Odessa site and shows a distribution map of the meteorite fragments recovered from the area.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://ceed.utpb.edu/geology-resources/west-texas-geology/meteor-impact-structures/ |title=Meteor Impact Structures |work= Center for Energy & Economic Diversification, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin |accessdate=5 November 2009 |author= Anonymous}}</ref>  The recoveries have generally come from an area to the north and northwest of the main crater site, with only a few found to the south. 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. Over 1500 meteorites have been recovered from the surrounding area over the years, the largest of which weighed approximately 300&nbsp;pounds (135&nbsp;kg), but excavations in the main crater confirm that there is no meteorite mass underground and probably never has been. The site has been designated as a [[National Natural Landmark]] by the [[National Park Service]], and a small information area and nature trail has been set up on-site for a self-guided tour.
+The crater itself and the museum curator, Tom Rodman, were featured in the June 1, 2013 broadcast of [[Bob Phillips]]'s [[Television syndication|syndicated]] [[television series]] ''[[Texas Country Reporter]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texascountryreporter.com/show.htm |title=Texas Country Reporter 2013 Episode Guide: Odessa Meteor Crater Museum |publisher=texascountryreporter.com |access-date=June 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415225255/http://www.texascountryreporter.com/show.htm |archive-date=April 15, 2009 }}</ref>
-It is 168&nbsp;meters (~550&nbsp;feet) in [[diameter]] and the age is estimated to be around 63,500&nbsp;years ([[Pleistocene]] or younger).<ref>Holliday, V.T., Kring, D.A., Mayer, J.H. and Goble, R.J. 2005. Age and effects of the Odessa meteorite impact, western Texas, USA. Geology 33(12):945-948.</ref>  The crater is exposed to the surface, and was originally about 100&nbsp;feet (30&nbsp;meters) deep. Because of subsequent infilling by soil and debris, the crater is currently 15&nbsp;feet (5&nbsp;meters) deep at its lowest point, which provides enough relief to be visible over the surrounding plains, but does not offer the dramatic relief found at the more famous [[Meteor Crater]] in Arizona.
-Still, the site offers an excellent opportunity to view a relatively uncommon impact feature close to a major transportation artery near a major city.
-The crater itself and the museum curator, Tom Rodman, were featured in the June 1, 2013 broadcast of [[Bob Phillips]]'s [[Television syndication|syndicated]] [[television series]], ''[[Texas Country Reporter]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texascountryreporter.com/show.htm|title=Texas Country Reporter 2013 Episode Guide: Odessa Meteor Crater Museum|publisher=texascountryreporter.com|accessdate=June 5, 2013}}</ref>
 ==See also==
-{{commons category|Odessa Meteor Crater}}
 {{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
 *[[Impact crater]]
@@ Line 62: / Line 50: @@
 *[[Monahans Sandhills State Park]]
 *[[Sierra Madera crater]]
-{{col-end}}
+{{col-end}}{{commons category|Odessa Meteor Crater}}
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{reflist|refs=
+<ref name=GNIS>{{cite web |title=Feature Detail Report for: Odessa Meteor Crater |url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1343070 |website=Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) |publisher=[[USGS]] |access-date=September 22, 2014 |date=November 30, 1979}}</ref>
+}}
 ==External links==
 {{commons category-inline}}
-*[http://ceed.utpb.edu/geology-resources/west-texas-geology/meteor-impact-structures/ UTPB Center for Energy and Economic Diversifications, Odessa Meteor Craters]
+*[http://www.odessameteorcrater.com/ Odessa Meteor Crater and Museum website]
+*[http://www.utpb.edu/ceed/geology-resources/west-texas-geology/meteor-impact-structures UTPB Center for Energy and Economic Diversifications, Odessa Meteor Craters]
 *[http://www.mindat.org/loc-4134.html Mindat.org - Odessa Craters, Odessa, Ector Co., Texas, USA]
-*[http://www.netwest.com/virtdomains/meteorcrater/history.htm Odessa Meteor Crater and Museum website]
 *[http://www.texasbob.com/travel/tbt_odscrt.html Article about the crater]
-*[https://sites.google.com/site/photosbyleaflet/home/photos-of-the-llano-estacado Photos of West Texas and the Llano Estacado]
+*[https://www.lbk.ars.usda.gov/WEWC/llano/estacado.htm Photos of West Texas and the Llano Estacado] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809090025/https://www.lbk.ars.usda.gov/WEWC/llano/estacado.htm |date=2017-08-09 }}
 *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgqyP2BBShY Video of the main crater site.]
+{{National Natural Landmarks in Texas}}
 {{Impact cratering on Earth}}
+{{Odessa, Texas}}<!--Not in the city but associated w it-->
+{{authority control}}
 [[Category:Protected areas of Ector County, Texas]]
-[[Category:Geography of Texas]]
 [[Category:Geology museums in the United States]]
 [[Category:Impact craters of the United States]]
@@ Line 85: / Line 78: @@
 [[Category:Natural history museums in Texas]]
 [[Category:Pleistocene impact craters]]
+[[Category:Landforms of Ector County, Texas]]
+[[Category:National Natural Landmarks in Texas]]

v t e Impact cratering on Earth
Impact crater Impact event
Lists	Worldwide Africa Antarctica Asia and Russia Australia Europe North America South America By country Possible
Confirmed ≥20 km diameter	Acraman Amelia Creek Araguainha Beaverhead Boltysh Carswell Charlevoix Chesapeake Bay Chicxulub Clearwater East and West Gosses Bluff Haughton Kamensk Kara Karakul Keurusselkä Lappajärvi Logancha Manicouagan Manson Mistastin Mjølnir Montagnais Morokweng Nördlinger Ries Obolon' Popigai Presqu'île Puchezh-Katunki Rochechouart Saint Martin Shoemaker Siljan Ring Slate Islands Steen River Strangways Sudbury Tookoonooka Tunnunik Vredefort Woodleigh Yarrabubba
Topics	Alvarez hypothesis Australite Breccia Coesite Complex crater Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary Cryptoexplosion Ejecta blanket Impact crater Impact structure Impactite Late Heavy Bombardment Lechatelierite Meteorite Moldavite Ordovician meteor event Philippinite Planar deformation features Shatter cone Shock metamorphism Shocked quartz Stishovite Suevite Tektite
Research	Ralph Belknap Baldwin Daniel Barringer Barringer Medal Edward C. T. Chao Robert S. Dietz William Kenneth Hartmann H. Jay Melosh Graham Ryder Peter H. Schultz Eugene Merle Shoemaker Earth Impact Database Impact Field Studies Group Lunar and Planetary Institute Traces of Catastrophe

v t e Odessa, Texas
History	Kiss and Kill 2019 shooting spree
Education	Ector County ISD Odessa HS Permian HS George H.W. Bush New Tech Odessa Midland ISD (For portions in Midland County) Odessa College (For portions in Ector County) Midland College (For portions in Midland County) UT Permian Basin
Landmarks	Ector County Coliseum Globe of the Great Southwest Music City Mall Presidential Museum and Leadership Library Ratliff Stadium White–Pool House Nearby: Odessa Meteor Crater
Transportation	Midland International Air and Space Port (in the Midland city limits)
Media	Odessa American
Culture	Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream film template on related TV show Odessa Jackalopes Midland-Odessa Sockers FC (in Midland) West Texas Warbirds
This list is incomplete.