< ISS034-E-29105 >
| NASA Photo ID | ISS034-E-29105 |
| Focal Length | 180mm |
| Date taken | 2013.01.15 |
| Time taken | 06:31:43 GMT |
Resolutions offered for this image:
1000 x 640 pixels 540 x 346 pixels 1440 x 960 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4256 x 2832 pixels 640 x 426 pixels
1000 x 640 pixels 540 x 346 pixels 1440 x 960 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4256 x 2832 pixels 640 x 426 pixels
Spacecraft nadir point: 18.8° S, 130.7° E
Photo center point: 17.4° S, 128.4° E
Photo center point by machine learning:
Photo center point: 17.4° S, 128.4° E
Photo center point by machine learning:
Nadir to Photo Center: Northwest
Spacecraft Altitude: 219 nautical miles (406km)
Country or Geographic Name: | AUSTRALIA-WA |
Features: | PICCANINNY IMPACT CRATER, ORD RIVER VALLEY, NICHOLSON R., HILLS, DRAINAGE |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 25 (11-25)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 47° |
Sun Azimuth: | 259° |
Camera: | Nikon D3S Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 180mm |
Camera Tilt: | 36 degrees |
Format: | 4256E: 4256 x 2832 pixel CMOS sensor, 36.0mm x 23.9mm, total pixels: 12.87 million, Nikon FX format |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 pixels | 640 pixels | No | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 540 pixels | 346 pixels | Yes | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 1440 pixels | 960 pixels | No | Yes | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 720 pixels | 480 pixels | Yes | Yes | Download Image | |
| 4256 pixels | 2832 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 640 pixels | 426 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
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No GeoTIFF is available for this photo.Image Caption: Piccaninny Impact Structure, Western Australia
Note: This caption refers to the image versions labeled "NASA's Earth Observatory web site".
The whole world tuned into meteor impacts after the spectacular February 15, 2013 event over Russia's Ural Mountains near Chelyabinsk. The Chelyabinsk meteor exploded while entering the atmosphere, but impact craters document locations where meteors survive transit through the Earth's atmosphere and crash onto the surface. While some meteor impact locations on the Earth's surface are readily recognizable from orbit as distinct circular structures - such as Barringer Crater in Arizona - most are harder to recognize due to erosion, subsequent tectonic alteration of the landscape, or human land use that obscures the feature (such as urban or agricultural development). In cases where only the eroded remnants of a potential impact crater have been recognized, the terms "impact structure" or "astrobleme" are used. Such is the case for the Piccaninny Impact Structure, located in northern Western Australia and featured in this astronaut photograph from the International Space Station (ISS). It is the first confirmed image of the impact structure taken from the ISS.
The Piccaninny structure is located within the semi-arid Purnululu National Park and World Heritage site, and is thought to have been formed less than 360 million years ago. Specifically, the 7.5 km diameter structure forms a roughly circular plateau (image left, approximate extent marked by the white ellipse) within the striking sandstone cone towers of the Bungle Bungle Range, visible here as the dark gray-brown regions adjacent to the impact structure. Geological evidence indicating an impact structure includes regional folding and faulting patterns both within and surrounding the plateau. Features confirming an impact, such as shock textures (indicating rapid compression, melting, and fracturing during impact) in rocks and minerals have not yet been found; this is perhaps due to removal during erosion of an original crater.
Surface soils of the sparsely vegetated valley adjacent to the Bungle Bungle Range appear a reddish brown at image right. More abundant green vegetation is recognizable in riparian areas along major stream and river channels, such as the Ord River (image right).
Note: This caption refers to the image versions labeled "NASA's Earth Observatory web site".
The whole world tuned into meteor impacts after the spectacular February 15, 2013 event over Russia's Ural Mountains near Chelyabinsk. The Chelyabinsk meteor exploded while entering the atmosphere, but impact craters document locations where meteors survive transit through the Earth's atmosphere and crash onto the surface. While some meteor impact locations on the Earth's surface are readily recognizable from orbit as distinct circular structures - such as Barringer Crater in Arizona - most are harder to recognize due to erosion, subsequent tectonic alteration of the landscape, or human land use that obscures the feature (such as urban or agricultural development). In cases where only the eroded remnants of a potential impact crater have been recognized, the terms "impact structure" or "astrobleme" are used. Such is the case for the Piccaninny Impact Structure, located in northern Western Australia and featured in this astronaut photograph from the International Space Station (ISS). It is the first confirmed image of the impact structure taken from the ISS.
The Piccaninny structure is located within the semi-arid Purnululu National Park and World Heritage site, and is thought to have been formed less than 360 million years ago. Specifically, the 7.5 km diameter structure forms a roughly circular plateau (image left, approximate extent marked by the white ellipse) within the striking sandstone cone towers of the Bungle Bungle Range, visible here as the dark gray-brown regions adjacent to the impact structure. Geological evidence indicating an impact structure includes regional folding and faulting patterns both within and surrounding the plateau. Features confirming an impact, such as shock textures (indicating rapid compression, melting, and fracturing during impact) in rocks and minerals have not yet been found; this is perhaps due to removal during erosion of an original crater.
Surface soils of the sparsely vegetated valley adjacent to the Bungle Bungle Range appear a reddish brown at image right. More abundant green vegetation is recognizable in riparian areas along major stream and river channels, such as the Ord River (image right).
