Australia's bizarre 'Spider Crater' seen from orbit | Space photo of the day for Oct. 22, 2026
NASA's Earth Observatory has published a satellite image capturing a geological feature in the Western Australia wilderness known as Spider Crater. The impact structure likely formed following a meteor collision hundreds of millions of years ago.
NASA's Earth Observatory has published a satellite image capturing a geological feature in the Western Australia wilderness known as Spider Crater. The impact structure likely formed following a meteor collision hundreds of millions of years ago. The feature spans roughly 8 by 7 miles, while its central "spider" piece measures about 2.5 miles across.
According to NASA, geologists believe this spider-like pattern emerged when the crater floor rebounded after the initial impact. Over hundreds of millions of years, erosion sculpted the formation into its distinctive shape. The image was captured by the Operational Land Imager aboard Landsat 9, a satellite launched in 2021 as a collaborative project between NASA and the U.S.
Geological Survey. The broader Landsat program has tracked planetary changes from orbit since the 1972 launch of Landsat 1. Beyond capturing striking planetary imagery, the Landsat series provides crucial data on environmental shifts, tracking deforestation, water quality, and crop growth on a near-weekly basis.
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Original publication: 22 October 2026 19:30
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