Sierra Madera crater, Impact crater in Pecos County, Texas, United States
Sierra Madera crater is an impact structure in West Texas with a distinct central uplift and concentric rings visible from the ground. The landscape displays clear elevation changes where material arranged in rings, with the inner mound rising noticeably above the surroundings.
The crater formed during the Cretaceous period when a meteorite struck the region, pushing rock layers upward from significant depths. This impact event created the distinctive ring pattern visible in the landscape today.
Astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt selected this location for geological training before their Apollo 17 lunar mission.
The site can be accessed via Highway 385, which runs through the crater and provides views of the geological features. The landscape is open and relatively exposed, so visitors should prepare for weather conditions and bring water.
The limestone breccia in the central peak displays fracture patterns similar to those in lunar craters like Copernicus, offering insights into impact mechanics. Astronauts have trained at this location using its structures as analogs for lunar terrain.
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