Earth’s Bulls-Eye, the Eye of Africa, Landmark for Astronauts (14 PICS)

April 5th, 2011 Permalink

Since the beginning of space missions, the Earth’s bulls-eye caught the interest of astronauts in the otherwise featureless Sahara Desert. Over the years, it has become a landmark for astronauts. At first, the circular pattern was thought to have been a meteorite impact, but now the 31 mile wide bulls-eye, called the Richat Structure, is believed to be uplifted rock, a circular anticline, laid bare by erosion. Some people call this bulls-eye in the Sahara the “Eye of Africa.” [14 pics]

The Richat Structure, a prominent circular feature in the Sahara desert of Mauritania near Ouadane

This prominent circular feature, known as the Richat Structure, in the Sahara desert of Mauritania is often noted by astronauts because it forms a conspicuous 50-kilometer-wide (30-mile-wide) bull’s-eye on the otherwise rather featureless expanse of the desert. Initially mistaken for a possible impact crater, it is now known to be an eroded circular anticline (structural dome) of layered sedimentary rocks. Photo #1 by NASA/JPL/NIMA

Richat Structure, Mauritania from Landsat 7

NASA explained, “The Richat Structure in the Sahara Desert of Mauritania is easily visible from space because it is nearly 50 kilometers across. Once thought to be an impact crater, the Richat Structure’s flat middle and lack of shock-altered rock indicates otherwise. The possibility that the Richat Structure was formed by a volcanic eruption also seems improbable because of the lack of a dome of igneous or volcanic rock. Rather, the layered sedimentary rock of the Richat structure is now thought by many to have been caused by uplifted rock sculpted by erosion. The above image was captured last year by the orbiting Landsat 7 satellite. Why the Richat Structure is nearly circular remains a mystery.” Photo #2 by Landsat 7, USGS, NASA



NASA wrote, “This prominent circular feature in the Sahara desert of Mauritania has attracted attention since the earliest space missions because it forms a conspicuous bull’s-eye in the otherwise rather featureless expanse of the desert. Described by some as looking like an outsized ammonite in the desert, the structure [which has a diameter of almost 50 kilometers (30 miles)] has become a landmark for shuttle crews. Initially interpreted as a meteorite impact structure because of its high degree of circularity, it is now thought to be merely a symmetrical uplift (circular anticline) that has been laid bare by erosion.” Photo #3 by NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

Mauritania Sahara Africa Bulls-eye

Mauritania – Sahara Desert in Africa – the Earth’s Bulls-eye Photo #4 by Lucio Andreetto

Need 3D glasses Richat Structure, Mauritania, Anaglyph, Landsat Image

Do you have 3D glasses handy? You need 3D glasses to really appreciate this Anaglyph Landsat Image shot of Richat Structure, Mauritania. Photo #5 by NASA/JPL/NIMA

ISS and Richat Dome, Mauritania

NASA described, “To the right of the International Space Station, the circular feature in the Mauritanian desert is Richat dome. The 24-mile- (39-km)-wide structure was formed by intrusion of molten rock at depth, which domed the overlying rock layers upward. Rock layers of differing compositions weather away at different rates, so that concentric ridges have developed within the structure.ISS and Richat Dome, Mauritania.” Photo #6 by the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center.

Anticline Richat Structure, Oudane, Mauritania

There are some people who try to attribute the Richat Structure in Oudane, Mauritania, as being lasered into the Earth by aliens. Photo #7 by Johnnie Shannon

MAP-richat Bullseye

The Eye of Africa as seen from Google maps – starting out far and moving closer to the Richat Structure, Oudane, Mauritania. Photo #8 by Google Maps

Richat MAP-Eye of Africa

From Google maps, drawing closer to the Eye of Africa. Photo #9 by Google Maps

Eye of Africa

Zooming in closer to observe the Earth’s bulls-eye – Richat Structure, Oudane, Mauritania. Photo #10 by Google Maps

Richat Structure, Oudane, Mauritania

Geologically, this anticline is a fold in the Earth, rock layers exposed by hot desert winds. The oldest rock beds at at its center core, with younger rocks in the outward circular form. Photo #11 by Google Maps

Richat Structure

The rings that form the Earth’s bulls-eye, the Richat Structure, are made of 200 – 500 million-years-old Paleozoic quartzite. Photo #12 by Google Maps

Earth's Richat Structure

Not being an astronaut and all, I had no idea that the Earth had a bulls-eye or that Africa had an eye in the desert that can be seen from space. Photo #13 by STS-41G Crew, Space Shuttle Challenger, NASA

Richat Structure - Eye of Africa

Whether you prefer the term Richat Structure, Earth’s bulls-eye, or Eye of Africa, it’s interesting and it looks pretty cool from above the Sahara Desert. Photo #14 by Viva NOLA



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