NASA discovers new McGetchin Crater on the Moon

NASA has announced the discovery of a significant new crater on the Moon, named the McGetchin Crater in honor of the late Thomas McGetchin. Identified via images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), the crater is approximately 222 meters wide and 43 meters deep. Scientists believe the impact, caused by an asteroid or comet, occurred on the Moon's near side between April and May 2024.

This event is considered statistically rare, with researchers estimating that impacts of this magnitude occur roughly once every 132 years. The McGetchin Crater is the largest newly formed crater identified by the LRO since its mission began in 2009, significantly surpassing the previous record of a 70-meter crater found in 2012.

The impact has provided valuable geological data, including the observation of lunar regolith decomposition and the creation of a 4-mile-wide area that is approximately 16 degrees Fahrenheit cooler at night. Experts note that studying the ejecta and surface disturbances is crucial for NASA as it plans sustainable infrastructure and habitats for future lunar astronaut missions.