When next you’re out under the stars, keep an eye to the night sky. You just might see something from out of this world.
Meteors are spectacular when they burn up in our atmosphere as a streak of light: and some make far more impact than others. When a meteor survives its dramatic journey to Earth is called a meteorite, read on for our top meteorite impact craters from around the world.
Vredefort Crater (South Africa) - the world's largest
Vredefort Crater in South Africa is the world’s largest known meteorite impact crater, and one of the oldest. The crater is named after the town of Vredefort, that sits within the crater zone.
Formed two billion years ago by a meteorite measuring 10-15 kilometres across, Vredefot’s resulting crater was 300 kilometres across when it formed.
In 2005, Vredefort Dome at the crater’s centre was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its geologic interest.
North Pole Crater (Australia) - the world's oldest
North Pole Crater, near Marble Bar in Western Australia, is the world’s oldest known meteorite impact crater at 3.5 billion years old. This makes it more than a billion years older than the Yarrabubba crater, near Meekatharra in WA.
Geologists from WA’s Curtin University identified the ancient impact crater in 2021. They estimate it could have been 100 kilometres wide when it formed.
North Pole Dome, the raised area in the middle of the crater, is about 35km in diameter.
Chicxulub Crater (Mexico) - the most destructive
Near the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico, the colossal Chicxulub crater is one of the most famous meteorite craters in the world.
It’s a souvenir from when a 10km space rock hit the Earth around 66 million years ago. Researchers estimate the Chicxulub crater is around 200km in diameter and 1km deep.
Scientists believe the devastation from the Chicxulub’s meteor impact caused a mass extinction event that killed 75% of plant and animal species on Earth, including all non-avian dinosaurs.
Meteor crater (USA) - the best preserved
Meteor Crater in the desert of northern Arizona is one of the best-preserved meteorite craters. The crater is 1.2km wide and 170m deep, with the rim of the crater rising 45m above the surrounding plains.
Created about 50,000 years ago by an iron/nickel meteor measuring approximately 50 metres across, the crater’s relatively young age, together with Arizona’s dry climate, has kept this crater comparatively unchanged since it formed.
Wolfe Creek Crater (Australia) - the bucket list spot
Wolfe Creek Crater in WA’s Kimberley region is a relatively young crater, having formed less than 120,000 years old by a meteor measuring 15m.
At around 880m across and 60m deep, Wolfe Creeek crater is remarkable to see also one of the world’s best-preserved.
Australia has around 30 recognised impact craters and Wolfe Creek crater was discovered in 1947, although the land’s traditional owners, the Djaru people know it better as Kandimalal.
Astronomer Duane Hamacher told Australian Geographic that some Djaru stories “talk about Rainbow Serpents coming up from under the ground and forming the crater.”
Jay Chesters
Jay Chesters is a wordsmith with a little bit of a thing for the stars. As a cosmic storyteller with a love for astronomy and space that's out of this world, Jay’s always eager to share his knowledge and passions.
If you saw something bright and fast in the night sky it may be a fireball. Report it to the Fireballs in the Sky team at Curtin University in Western Australia. It’s quick and easy to do.
