ISS030-E-5456

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Spacecraft nadir point: 19.6° N, 19.8° E

Photo center point: 19.5° N, 18.5° E

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Nadir to Photo Center: West

Spacecraft Altitude: 205 nautical miles (380km)
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Image Caption: Emi Koussi Volcano and Aorounga Impact Crater, Chad

This striking astronaut photograph from the International Space Station features two examples of circular landscape features--labeled as craters--that were produced by very different geological processes. At image left, the broad grey-green shield volcano of Emi Koussi is visible. The volcano is marked by three overlapping calderas formed by eruptions; these form a large oblong depression at the 3,415 meter asl summit of the volcano. A smaller crater sits within the larger caldera depression. While volcanic activity has not been observed, nor is mentioned in the historical record, an active thermal area is located on the southern flank.

The circular Aorounga Impact Crater is located approximately 110 km to the southeast of Emi Koussi and has its origin in forces from above rather than eruptions from below. The Aorounga structure is thought to record a meteor impact approximately 345-370 million years ago. The circular feature visible at image upper right may be only one of three impact craters formed by the same event - the other two are buried by sand deposits. The linear features (image lower right) that arc around Emi Koussi and overprint Aorounga and the surrounding bedrock are known as yardangs; these are rock ridges formed by wind erosion.