Overview

The Great Barringer Meteor Crater in Arizona was the first recognized terrestrial impact crater. The confirmation of a meteor impact (subsequently identified as the Canyon Diablo meteorite) at the site proved to be an important stepping stone for advances in geology and astronomy. In solving the mystery surrounding the genesis of the Barringer crater, geologists and astronomers made substantial progress in understanding the dynamic interplay of gradual and cataclysmic geologic processes both on Earth and on extraterrestrial bodies. In addition, the story behind the early-twentieth-century controversy surrounding the origin of the crater highlights the dangers of prejudice and selective use of evidence in scientific methodology.

The Meteor Crater near Winslow, Arizona. (Roger Ressemeyer/Corbis. Reproduced with permission.)

Background

The Barringer Meteor Crater (originally named Coon Butte or Coon Mountain) rises 150 ft (46 m) above the floor of the surrounding Arizona...