I did learn some interesting things about the crater. For example, it is not the largest, oldest, or newest meteor crater in the world. But it is the best preserved, because of its location in an arid desert.
I also learned that the meteor itself was not nearly as large as the resulting crater. In fact, it was much, much smaller. But because it was made primarily of lead and nickel, it was very heavy. When it hit the earth, the kenetic energy created by the heat and speed of its trajectory into the earth's atmosphere caused it to drive a path into the earth, and then to explode like multiple atomic bombs. In 10 seconds flat, millions of tons of rock, dirt, and meteor were blown out of the hole and onto the surrounding landscape. Parts of the meteor have been found as far as 6 miles away!
The meteorite was half the size of the parking lot where the RVs and trucks are parked, in the photo below.
One other item of interest: The explosion was so powerful that rocks at the bottom of the crater were blown to the top of the crater, so that the oldest rocks are sprinkled above younger rocks. The white rocks in the photo below are the oldest rocks. They used to be buried a several hundred feet beneath the younger rocks.
One more thing. I learned that a meteor is a rock hurtling through space. A meteorite is a meteor that has hit a planet.
Good stuff!
