NASA discovers new McGetchin crater on the Moon

NASA has identified a significant new crater on the visible side of the Moon, named McGetchin in honor of lunar specialist Thomas McGetchin. The crater, which measures 222 meters in width and 43 meters in depth, was formed by an object impact in 2024.

The discovery was made by Robert Wagner of Intuitive Machines while analyzing data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). By comparing wide-angle camera images taken at different intervals, Wagner identified an unusually large bright spot surrounded by a dark halo, indicating a recent surface disturbance.

This formation is noted for being one of the largest recent craters detected by an orbiting probe in our solar system. The LRO, which has been orbiting the Moon since 2009, uses image stacking techniques to detect surface changes as small as 45 meters.