Named for Daniel Moreau Barringer (1860–1929), pioneer investigator of terrestrial meteorite craters. From intensive field studies, including much subsurface exploration, Barringer demonstrated the impact origin of Meteor Crater, Arizona, now widely known as the Barringer Crater, the first recognized impact crater on the Earth. On the basis of his studies, Barringer strongly supported the hypothesis of impact origin for the craters on the Moon. (M 12976) _ _.