NASA Identifies Largest Newly Formed Crater on the Moon

NASA has announced the discovery of the largest newly formed crater on the Moon, resulting from an impact by an object comparable to a six-story building. The crater, which measures approximately 141 feet deep and spans the width of three football fields, was detected during a routine data quality check by Robert Wagner of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

The impact is believed to have occurred between April 11 and May 22, 2024, and was likely caused by a comet or asteroid. NASA estimates such significant impacts occur on the Moon about once every century or longer. Wagner officially named the crater McGetchin, in honor of lunar scientist Tom McGetchin.

Upon discovering the crater, Wagner noted the unusually clear impact debris pattern and immediately began investigating the site. The resulting observations provided insights into the crater's size, shape, and the effects on the surrounding terrain, with details expected to be published in an upcoming paper in Science Advances.