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Discovery and study of McGetchin lunar crater

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2026-09-21 19:26 UTC → 2026-09-22 01:27 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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 ~~during a routine data-quality check.~~ 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.

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