In Pics: 6,900-year-old crater in Gujarat captured by NASA in newly shared pictures | - Times of India

Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1]

In a remarkable revelation from space,

NASA

's Landsat 8 satellite has captured stunning images of a 6,900-year-old impact crater located in the

Kutch

district of Gujarat, India. The crater, named Luna after a nearby village, is a geological marvel that has piqued the interest of scientists and enthusiasts alike.

The existence of the

Luna crater

had long been suspected by local scientists, but it wasn't until a recent geochemical analysis that its origins were confirmed.

The study revealed the presence of rare minerals and high concentrations of iridium—elements that are typically associated with extraterrestrial objects. These findings, along with the distinct circular shape visible from space, have solidified the crater's status as the result of a

meteorite

impact.

Spanning approximately 1.8 kilometers in diameter, the Luna crater's outer rim rises about 20 feet above the crater floor, creating a prominent feature in the otherwise flat landscape of the Banni Plains. The

Great Rann of Kutch

, a vast white salt desert, lies just to the north, adding to the dramatic scenery of the region.

Representative image

The images shared by NASA offer a clear view of the crater's structure and have allowed scientists to study its features in greater detail. The crater often contains water due to its low-lying nature, which has made on-site research challenging. However, researchers took advantage of a dry period in May 2022 to collect samples from the crater, leading to the breakthrough in understanding its true nature.

Radiocarbon dating of plant remnants found in the silt within the crater has helped scientists determine that the meteorite impact occurred around 6,900 years ago. This places the event near the time of the ancient

Harappan

civilization, though it remains uncertain whether the impact predates the arrival of humans in the area.

Impact craters are relatively rare on Earth, with fewer than 200 confirmed structures worldwide. This scarcity is partly due to the fact that many meteorites that survive the journey through Earth's atmosphere end up in water bodies. Additionally, terrestrial forces such as wind, water, and plate tectonics can erase evidence of impacts over time.

The discovery of the Luna crater is significant not only for its rarity but also for the insights it provides into Earth's geological history. Impact craters serve as natural laboratories for scientists to study atmospheric processes and the subsurface composition of our planet. They also offer a glimpse into the past, revealing information about the conditions that existed at the time of the impact.

NASA's images of the Luna crater have sparked a renewed interest in the study of impact craters and their role in shaping the Earth's surface. As technology advances, allowing for more detailed observations from space, it is likely that more of these hidden wonders will be uncovered.

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