Odessa Meteor Crater, Impact crater in Ector County, Texas, United States.
Odessa Meteor Crater is a circular depression formed by an ancient cosmic impact in the Texas plains. The bowl-shaped formation spans roughly 550 feet across with raised rims that set it apart from the surrounding landscape.
The crater formed roughly 62,000 years ago when an iron meteorite struck the limestone landscape, creating three separate impact zones. This represents one of the few confirmed meteorite impact sites found in North America.
The site attracts researchers, scientists, and geology students who study the effects of meteorite impacts and their role in shaping Earth's surface.
The site can be reached from Interstate 20 using Exit 108, then heading south on Moss Road to the parking area near the crater. The location is easy to find and open to visitors during daylight hours year-round.
More than 1,500 meteorite fragments have been recovered from the area surrounding the crater, offering insight into the composition of the space rock. The largest piece recovered weighs approximately 300 pounds, making it a prized specimen for study.
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