Chinese Scientists Discover Rare Meteorite Crater Hanging on Mountain Ridge 🌠
In an exciting turn of events, Chinese scientists have uncovered a meteorite crater perched atop a mountain ridge for the very first time! 🚀 According to a recent publication in the academic journal Matter and Radiation at Extremes, this discovery adds a new gem to the world’s cosmic landmarks.
Meteorite craters are those awe-inspiring circular depressions created when space rocks like asteroids make a dramatic entry onto Earth. Not only are they fascinating to look at, but they also help scientists unlock secrets of the universe beyond our planet. 🌌
While over 200 meteorite craters have been identified around the globe, finding one in China is like discovering a rare cosmic treasure! 🧩
The newly discovered Hailin impact crater is nestled in the northern mountains of Hailin, located in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. This crater isn’t just any hole in the ground—it’s shaped like an elliptical dustpan, stretches 1,360 meters across, and has a depth difference of over 100 meters from rim to center! Imagine a giant funnel hanging on the ridge of the stunning Changbai Mountains. 🏞️
“This impact occurred in the late Cenozoic Era, hundreds of thousands of years ago,” explains Chen Ming, a researcher from the Beijing-based Center for High Pressure Science & Technology Advanced Research.
This cosmic discovery doesn’t just make for a great story—it helps scientists dive deeper into understanding planetary collisions. It opens up fresh avenues to explore how such impacts shape special terrains and landforms, especially in regions like China. 🌍✨
Reference(s):
Chinese scientists discover meteorite crater on mountain ridge
cgtn.com
