What Happens On The Opposite Side of The Earth When Large Asteroids Impact?

In the shadow of every great cataclysm, Earth bears silent witness at its farthest point. When a large asteroid slams into the surface, shockwaves reverberate through the planet’s core and mantle, sometimes converging with uncanny intensity at the antipode—the exact opposite point on the globe. Though Earth’s complex internal structure scatters much of this energy, simulations and planetary analogs suggest that under the right conditions, this seismic convergence can fracture the crust, trigger earthquakes, and in rare cases, awaken dormant volcanic systems. The haunting possibility that Chicxulub’s impact helped unleash the Deccan Traps reminds us that even the far side of Earth can feel the violence of a distant cosmic blow. Antipodal echoes may be subtle, but they are real—a testament to the planet’s dynamic interconnectedness.