May 12, 2004

Donald Savage 
Headquarters, Washington 
(Phone: 202/358-1547)

Gail Gallessich
University of California, Santa Barbara
(Phone: 805/893-7220) 

NOTE TO EDITORS: N04-069

NASA ANNOUNCES SITE OF "GREAT DYING" METEOR CRATER

Researchers funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation have 
located the site of an impact crater. The crater is believed to be 
associated with the largest extinction event in Earth's history about 
250 million years ago. 

The researchers will report their findings and reveal the site of the 
crater at 2 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 13, 2004, during a press 
teleconference.

Panelists are:
– – Luann Becker, geologist, University of California, 
Santa Barbara, Calif.
– – Robert Poreda, geochemist, University of Rochester, 
N.Y.
– – Kevin Pope, geologist, Geo Eco Arc Research, Aquasco, 
Md. 
– – Douglas H. Erwin, Senior Paleobiologist, National 
Museum of Natural History, Washington
– – Michael New, astrobiology discipline scientist, NASA 
Headquarters, Washington; panel moderator

Reporters may call in to the press conference to hear the presentation 
and participate in the question-and-answer session, while following 
the presentations on a Web site.

The phone numbers for reporters to call into the press conference are: 
1/888/790-1919 or 1/712/271-0046. The password is: Impact SSU

The Web site for reporters to access the presentations: 

http://spacekids.hq.nasa.gov/astrobio
Password: beckerImpact 

	
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