We’re answering a subscriber’s question again:
“Hello. I came across some beautiful photos of the Richat Structure from space online. It looks very much like the aftermath of a meteorite impact. Is my guess correct?”
The Richat Structure (Guelb er Richat) is a massive geological formation in the Sahara Desert. It is also referred to as the “Eye of the Sahara” or the “Desert’s Pupil.” Due to its distinctive shape and beauty, it attracts interest from both scientists and the general public. Let’s delve into it.
The Richat Structure is about 50 kilometers in diameter and consists of concentric circles of exposed stone and other sedimentary rocks protruding from the sand. It is believed that it was discovered from space by the astronauts of Gemini-4, although the structure was known to French geologists as early as the 19th century. However, since assessing its shape and splendor from the ground is challenging, it didn’t draw much attention until the 1960s.
Origin Theories
Over the years of studying this structure, many scientific and non-scientific hypotheses have emerged regarding its origin. Let’s briefly touch…
