Steinheim crater

The Steinheim crater is a meteorite crater in Steinheim am Albuch, Heidenheim County, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The crater is located at the northeastern end of the Swabian Alb near the much larger (24 km diameter) Nördlinger Ries crater and was most probably formed simultaneously with it by the oblique, ENE directed impact of a double asteroid.[1][2][3]

It is 3.8 km in diameter and the age is estimated to be 15 ± 1 million years (Miocene). The crater is exposed at the surface.

Steinheim Crater today

Panoramic view of the Steinheim basin.

References

  1. ^ J. Baier & A. Scherzinger: Der neue Geologische Lehrpfad im Steinheimer Impakt-Krater. - Jber. Mitt. oberrhein. geol. Ver, N. F. 92, 9-24, 2010.
  2. ^ B.A. Ivanov and D. Stöffler, "The Steinheim Impact Crater, Germany: Modeling of a Complex Crater with Central Uplift", Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI, 2005.
  3. ^ "Steinheim". Earth Impact Database. University of New Brunswick. http://www.passc.net/EarthImpactDatabase/steinheim.html. Retrieved 2008-12-30.