The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs is estimated to have been between 10 and 15 kilometers (6 to 9 miles) wide. This impactor created the Chicxulub crater, which is about 150 to 180 kilometers (93 to 112 miles) in diameter, making it the second-largest known impact crater on Earth
. This massive collision occurred 66 million years ago and caused widespread devastation, including massive fires, tsunamis, and an "impact winter" due to dust and gases blocking sunlight, which led to the mass extinction event that wiped out about 75% of Earth's species, including all non-avian dinosaurs
. In summary:
- Asteroid size: 10–15 kilometers wide
- Crater size: approximately 150–180 kilometers in diameter
- Impact date: about 66 million years ago
- Result: global mass extinction including the dinosaurs
