Analysis of formation of the Odessa crater

The impact of the meteorite that formed the Odessa crater is examined in this numerical study. Extensive information collected from excavation of the site has made it possible to use the Odessa crater as a code validation test, to the extent that a calculated impact can produce equivalent cavity dimensions and stratification. In addition, the calculations can be used to provide a better estimate of velocity and trajectory of the meteorite at impact. The initial set of simulations performed in this study suggests that original estimates of the impact conditions may not have been sufficient to produce a crater of the size and shape known from the Odessa site. Supplemental analysis was performed and suggested that the meteor impacted at a much larger obliquity angle and may have been much larger than originally speculated. Details of the analysis leading to these observations are presented.