NASA has discovered a new impact crater on the Moon's surface, measuring 222 meters wide and 43 meters deep. Named McGetchin, this crater has been recorded as the largest modern impact crater observed in the Solar System to date. Scientists estimate that an impact of this magnitude occurs approximately once every 132 years.
The crater was formed between April 11 and May 22, 2024, when an asteroid the size of a three- to six-story building collided with the Moon. The event, which could not be detected in real-time by any telescope during the impact, was discovered approximately a year later thanks to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft, which studies the Moon.
Detected with LRO Images
The LRO, which has been orbiting the Moon since 2009, uses cameras with different resolutions to monitor changes on the surface. NASA scientist Robert Wagner noticed a new formation on the lunar surface in 2025 while examining images obtained by the spacecraft's wide-angle camera. By comparing before-and-after images, Wagner confirmed that a new impact crater had formed.
NASA's automated image comparisons also helped detect the new crater in August 2025. The discovery was finalized with higher-resolution images. The crater was named after scientist Thomas McGetchin, who conducted studies on the lunar surface and geology.
Although the McGetchin crater is large, it is not the largest crater on the Moon. That record belongs to the South Pole-Aitken Basin, which is approximately 2,494 kilometers in diameter. This basin is a much older crater formed in the Moon's early history. The McGetchin crater is scientifically significant due to both its size and its recent formation. It is also noted to be approximately three times wider than the previous record for a modern crater.
Impact Exceeded Expectations
Researchers determined that the dust and rock fragments ejected during the impact were scattered over greater distances and at higher angles than some models predicted. Surface changes were found to extend to regions more than 1,000 times the crater's radius.
High-resolution images taken by the LRO's narrow-angle camera were obtained when the spacecraft passed over the impact site again in December 2025. These images allowed for a detailed examination of the new formation.
The Region Around the Crater is Colder at Night
Another study conducted by scientists revealed that an area approximately 6.4 kilometers wide around the McGetchin crater is about 8.9 degrees Celsius colder at night.
According to researchers, the reason for this change is that the impact disturbed the Moon's topsoil layer, known as regolith. The impact loosened the structure of the surface material, reducing its density. As a result, the soil layer retains less heat and reaches lower temperatures at night compared to its surroundings.
(An embedded video showing the crater is present in the original article.)
NASA states that such temperature differences could be important for future vehicles operating on the lunar surface. Changes in the physical properties of the surface could affect the interaction between rover wheels and the terrain. This factor is among those that could be considered in the design of vehicles that will operate in regions around new craters.
Also See: NASA's Roman Telescope could have twice the expected lifespan
The McGetchin crater also offers scientists a rare opportunity to study the effects of lunar impacts and how the surface changes over time. NASA aims to better understand how far ejected materials can travel during an impact. The data obtained could contribute to the design and protection of future habitats planned for the Moon.
References:
0 Comments: