ByDonavyn Coffeypublishedabout 4 hours ago

What are the largest three?

An illustration of an asteroid slamming into Earth. A space rock this size would leave an enormous crater.(Image credit: SCIEPRO Via Getty Images)

In its 4.5 billion-year existence, Earth has been punched and gouged by hundreds of large asteroids that have slammed into its surface. At least190 of these collisionshave left colossal scars that are still visible today. But not every space rock that zips into our planet’s atmosphere makes it to the ground. So what does it take for anasteroidto make a dent on Earth, and which known impact events have left the biggest craters?

Most space rocks that barrel into Earth’s atmosphere aren’t giant at all. They’re very small — around 3 feet (1 meter) across,according to NASA. That’s good for Earthlings, as any space rock less than 82 feet…