The Crater Found on Google Earth
Looking for prehistoric sites on Google Earth, a researcher spotted a perfect crater in the Egyptian desert that nobody had ever studied.
What was reported
In 2008, Vincenzo de Michele, an Italian mineralogist, was searching satellite images of the remote desert of south-western Egypt for traces of ancient settlements when he noticed a small, sharp crater about 45 metres wide, surrounded by bright rays of ejected rock.
In 2010, an expedition of Italian and Egyptian scientists reached the site.
Explanations offered
They found it was made by an iron meteorite, which struck the desert within the last 5,000 years, perhaps within sight of prehistoric people. Thousands of iron fragments were scattered around it. It is one of the best-preserved small impact craters on Earth.
- When
- Formed within the last 5,000 years; found in 2008
- Where
- Kamil Crater, East Uweinat, Egypt
- Witnesses
- An Italian mineralogist using Google Earth; a scientific expedition
- Status
- Confirmed
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