Here’s a new Where In The Universe Challenge, and this one was submitted by UT reader David Schumaker! Name where in the Universe this image depicts and give yourself extra points if you can name the telescope or spacecraft responsible for the image. Post your guesses in the comments section, and check back on later at this same post to find the answer. To make this challenge fun for everyone, please don’t include links or extensive explanations with your answer. Good luck!
UPDATE: The answer has now been posted below.
This image is of Earth, an impact crater in the Sahara Desert of northern Chad, from an asteroid or comet several that is hundred million years old. It was taken by astronauts from Expedition 12 on the International Space Station. The concentric ring structure is the Aorounga impact crater, with a diameter of about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles). The original crater was buried by sediments, which were then partially eroded to reveal the current ring-like appearance. The area shown is centered at approximately 19.1 degrees north latitude and 19.3 degrees east longitude.
Thanks again to David Schumaker for sending in this image, which he found here.
The image was obtained on April 11, 1994 .
This has to be Mars!
Looks like the pattern one of the grinder things on spirit of opportunity makes on rocks on mars.
Aorounga Crater, Chad, Africa.
Crater in Chad, Africa. Picture taken from ISS.
Sahara Desert region of northern Chad
The impact of an asteroid or comet several hundred million years ago, according to scientists, left scars in the landscape that are still visible in this International Space Station/Expedition 12 picture of an area in the Sahara Desert of northern Chad. [edited by moderator]
“To make this challenge fun for everyone, please don’t include links or extensive explanations with your answer. Good luck!”
Felix, I guess you don’t care about fun for everyone?
I scoured the HiRISE images of Mars to try to find this. I don’t think it is Mars. It could be Earth and in particular the Aorounga Crater, Chad, Africa.
LC
Aorounga crater, is one of the best preserved impact craters on Earth. Image from ISS. Sahara Desert in Chad.
Aorounga
ISS012-E-09639
11/29/05
Aorounga Crater, But what satilite took the picture?
ISS expedition 12 image of an old, weathered impact crater in northern Chad.