Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember

ISS034-E-029105 (15 Jan. 2013) --- One of the Expedition 34 crew members aboard the Earth-orbiting International Space Station photographed this image of the Piccaninny impact structure, located within the semi-arid Purnululu National Park and World Heritage site in Australia. The structure is believed by most scientists to have been formed less than 360 million years ago. Specifically, the 7.5 kilometer diameter structure forms a roughly circular plateau within the striking sandstone cone towers of the Bungle Bungle Range. Geological evidence indicating an impact structure includes regional folding and faulting patterns both within and surrounding the plateau. Features confirming an impact, such as shock textures (indicating rapid compression, melting, and fracturing during impact) in rocks and minerals have not yet been found; this, according to scientists, is perhaps due to removal during erosion of an original crater.