Satellite Image Reveals Ancient Spider-Shaped Impact Crater in Western Australia

A recent Landsat 9 photograph displays the Spider Crater, an oval impact structure measuring roughly 13 km by 11 km in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. The central dome, about 4 km across, is surrounded by four sandstone ridges that give the formation its spider-like appearance. Field studies identified shatter cones—fractures that only form under intense shock—confirming the site’s meteoritic origin.

Laboratory work on shocked quartz and zircon crystals is helping scientists determine the angle of impact. Although the exact timing remains uncertain, rock dating places the event between 900 million and 600 million years ago, making it a late Precambrian feature. Over vast spans of time, erosion stripped away softer layers, leaving the resilient sandstone “legs” exposed. The new imagery settles longstanding speculation that the structure might be volcanic, reinforcing its status as a classic impact crater.