Question 1: Today is Asteroid Day. Where is Wolfe Creek Crater?
- Australia
- Germany
- France
Answer: Australia
Fact: Wolfe Creek Crater, located in Western Australia, was created by the impact of a large iron meteorite. Called Kandimalal by the Jaru people, it was officially identified in 1947, although Indigenous knowledge of the site existed long before then. Nearly perfectly circular, it ranks among the largest impact craters in the world.
Question 2: Which is the oldest known impact crater in North America?
- Chesapeake Bay Crater
- Sudbury Basin
- Barringer Crater
Answer: Sudbury Basin
Fact: The Sudbury Basin in Ontario, Canada, was formed about 1.85 billion years ago by a massive meteorite impact that reshaped the Earth’s crust. Spanning approximately 39 miles, the impact site is rich in mineral deposits, making it one of the most productive mining regions in the world today.
Question 3: The Chicxulub crater is widely believed to be linked to which major event?
- Eruption of Mauna Loa
- Extinction of the dinosaurs
- Ice Age
Answer: Extinction of the dinosaurs
Fact: Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid struck the area now known as Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, creating the Chicxulub crater, which spans more than 110 miles. Geophysicist Glen Penfield discovered the crater in the late 1970s while analyzing oil exploration data. The impact triggered massive fires, tsunamis, and led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.