A routine analysis of lunar imagery has led to the discovery of the largest newly formed crater ever documented in the solar system. Robert Wagner, an image-processing specialist working with data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), identified the site after noticing a distinct bright spot surrounded by a dark halo, which indicated a significant disturbance of lunar surface material.
The impact site, officially named McGetchin in honor of lunar scientist Tom McGetchin, is located on the eastern edge of the Moon. Researchers determined the crater was created between April 11 and May 22, 2024, following a collision with an asteroid or comet estimated to be the size of a three- to six-story building. The resulting crater measures 728 feet in width and 141 feet in depth, a scale of impact that scientists believe occurs only once per century or less frequently.
Beyond the physical crater, the impact significantly altered the surrounding environment. Data from the LRO’s Diviner thermal instrument revealed a four-mile-wide area around the site that remains 16 degrees Fahrenheit cooler at night than the adjacent terrain. Researchers suggest this cooling effect is caused by the impact loosening the lunar regolith, which reduces its density and heat-retention capabilities. This discovery underscores the ongoing transformation of the lunar surface and provides critical data for future human and robotic exploration.
Since its launch over 17 years ago, the LRO has identified at least 1,000 new impact craters and documented 100,000 surface changes. Because the Moon lacks an atmosphere to disintegrate incoming space debris, it remains highly susceptible to impacts ranging from microscopic projectiles to larger objects capable of reshaping the landscape.
Source: NASA
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