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Discovery and study of McGetchin lunar crater

Overview

NASA scientists identified a massive new lunar crater, named the McGetchin crater, through data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). The impact, caused by an asteroid or comet fragment roughly the size of a three-to-six-story building, is estimated to have occurred between April 11 and May 22, 2024.

The crater measures approximately 222 meters in diameter and up to 43 meters in depth. Named in honor of the late lunar scientist Thomas McGetchin, the formation was identified during a routine data review in 2025, having initially escaped real-time detection by Earth-based and space telescopes. Researcher Robert Wagner of Intuitive Machines spotted the feature while analyzing orbital imagery and comparing topographic maps to identify recent changes.

The event significantly altered the lunar surface by churning material for over 100 kilometers. Using the LRO’s thermal instrument, Diviner, scientists identified a seven-kilometer-wide cold spot surrounding the crater. This temperature drop is attributed to the impact “fluffing up” the lunar soil, making it less dense and less capable of retaining heat.

Researchers note that an impact of this scale is a statistically rare event, occurring on the Moon approximately once every 132 years. The crater, located near the edge of the Sea of Crises, is considered the largest fresh crater observed on the Moon since at least 2009. The impact is estimated to have produced an explosion comparable to 15,500 tons of TNT. These findings, detailed in the journal Science Advances, provide critical data for NASA and other agencies, including China, as they plan for future crewed missions and the establishment of permanent lunar bases in the 2030s.

Entities

NASA · McGetchin Crater · Thomas McGetchin · Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter · Science Advances

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 20 sources
    McGetchin Crater: Massive new lunar impact discovered by NASA

    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has identified McGetchin Crater, a massive new 222-meter-wide impact site on the Moon, the largest recent crater discovered in the solar system.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Moon exploration highlighted during International Observe the Moon Night

    International Observe the Moon Night celebrates lunar science amid new findings on the moon’s rapid formation via the Giant Impact hypothesis and the discovery of the new McGetchin crater.

  3. [TECHNOLOGY] 63 sources
    NASA discovers massive new McGetchin crater on the Moon

    NASA has discovered McGetchin, a massive new lunar crater formed in 2024 by an asteroid or comet impact. It is considered the largest recent impact identified in the solar system.

Sources

24sata.hr · abc17news.com · actualidad.rt.com · alaraby.co.uk · bajotecho.com.do · berliner-kurier.de · breezyscroll.com · burburinhonews.com.br · calibre800.com · ch23.com · ciencias.uy · cnet.com · communitynews.com.au · connectedtoindia.com · countryherald.com · defector.com · deultimominuto.net · elbuentono.com.mx · en.tempo.co · ensegundos.do · epochtimes.com · excelsior.com.mx · fatopaulista.com.br · faz.net · foxweather.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · friendsofnasa.org · geekweek.interia.pl · grenzwissenschaft-aktuell.de · guampdn.com · hotnews.ro · internewscast.com · interris.it · it-bg.org · it-boltwise.de · jutarnji.hr · kesq.com · keyt.com · krdo.com · kurier.at · kvia.com · lahora.gt · laopinion.com · lesinguliersete.fr · livenowfox.com · localnews8.com · madhyamamonline.com · mixvale.com.br

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history