< ISS030-E-254011 >
| NASA Photo ID | ISS030-E-254011 |
| Focal Length | 400mm |
| Date taken | 2012.04.21 |
| Time taken | 15:13:48 GMT |
Resolutions offered for this image:
1000 x 658 pixels 540 x 355 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 6048 x 4032 pixels 640 x 427 pixels
1000 x 658 pixels 540 x 355 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 6048 x 4032 pixels 640 x 427 pixels
Spacecraft nadir point: 29.8° N, 6.4° W
Photo center point: 29.0° N, 7.5° W
Photo center point by machine learning:
Photo center point: 29.0° N, 7.5° W
Photo center point by machine learning:
Nadir to Photo Center: Southwest
Spacecraft Altitude: 210 nautical miles (389km)
Country or Geographic Name: | ALGERIA |
Features: | OUARKZIZ IMPACT CRATER, MOUNTAINS, SEDIMENTARY STRATA |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 0 (no clouds present) |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 47° |
Sun Azimuth: | 255° |
Camera: | Nikon D3X Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 400mm |
Camera Tilt: | 21 degrees |
Format: | 6048E: 6048 x 4032 pixel CMOS sensor, 35.9mm x 24.0mm, total pixels: 25.72 million, Nikon FX format |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 pixels | 658 pixels | No | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 540 pixels | 355 pixels | Yes | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 720 pixels | 480 pixels | Yes | Yes | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 6048 pixels | 4032 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 640 pixels | 427 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
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No GeoTIFF is available for this photo.Image Caption: Ouarkziz Impact Crater, Algeria
The Ouarkziz Impact Crater is located in northwestern Algeria close to the border with Morocco. The crater was formed by a meteor impact less than 70 million years ago during the late Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era or "Age of Dinosaurs". Originally called Tindouf, the 3.5 kilometer in diameter impact crater (image center) has been heavily eroded since its formation; however its circular morphology is highlighted by exposures of older sedimentary rock layers that form roughly northwest to southeast-trending ridgelines to the north and south. From the vantage point of an astronaut on board the International Space Station, the impact crater is clearly visible with a magnifying camera lens.
A geologist interpreting this image to build a working geological history of the region would conclude that the Ouarkziz impact crater is younger than the sedimentary rocks, as the rock layers had to be already present for the meteor to hit them. Likewise, a stream channel is visible cutting across the center of the impact structure (image center), indicating that the channel formed after the impact had occurred. This Principal of Cross-Cutting Relationships, usually attributed to the famous 19th century geologist Charles Lyell, is a basic logic tool used by geologists to build relative sequence and history of events when investigating a region.
The Ouarkziz Impact Crater is located in northwestern Algeria close to the border with Morocco. The crater was formed by a meteor impact less than 70 million years ago during the late Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era or "Age of Dinosaurs". Originally called Tindouf, the 3.5 kilometer in diameter impact crater (image center) has been heavily eroded since its formation; however its circular morphology is highlighted by exposures of older sedimentary rock layers that form roughly northwest to southeast-trending ridgelines to the north and south. From the vantage point of an astronaut on board the International Space Station, the impact crater is clearly visible with a magnifying camera lens.
A geologist interpreting this image to build a working geological history of the region would conclude that the Ouarkziz impact crater is younger than the sedimentary rocks, as the rock layers had to be already present for the meteor to hit them. Likewise, a stream channel is visible cutting across the center of the impact structure (image center), indicating that the channel formed after the impact had occurred. This Principal of Cross-Cutting Relationships, usually attributed to the famous 19th century geologist Charles Lyell, is a basic logic tool used by geologists to build relative sequence and history of events when investigating a region.
