Subscribe now

Earth

Huge crater in India hints at major meteorite impact 4000 years ago

The Luna structure, a 1.8-kilometre-wide depression in north-west India, may have been caused by the largest meteorite to strike Earth in the past 50,000 years

By Joshua Rapp Learn

26 March 2024

The Luna structure, a possible crater in Gujarat, India

Google Earth/Maxar Technologies

A possible impact crater discovered in India may have been caused by the largest meteorite to strike Earth in the past 50,000 years.

The meteorite could have caused a fireball, a massive shock wave and wildfires that would have spread through an area inhabited by people from the Indus valley civilisation thousands of years ago.

“It would have been definitely equivalent to a nuclear bomb, but without the…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 2nd of July 2024.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account