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The short version

  • A new crater approximately 728 feet wide was identified on the moon's eastern edge, formed by an impact between April and May 2024.
  • The event is statistically rare, with similar impacts estimated to occur only once every century, providing a unique observational window for researchers.
  • Thermal analysis reveals the surrounding terrain remains cooler at night due to disrupted soil density, highlighting risks for future lunar infrastructure.

A significant geological event has been confirmed on the lunar surface, marking the largest recently formed crater discovered in the solar system. Researchers published two studies in Science Advances detailing the feature and its surrounding environmental changes. The discovery provides critical insights into impact dynamics and offers a rare opportunity to observe the immediate aftermath of a large celestial collision, data that is essential for planning future human presence on the moon.

The anomaly was first detected in October 2025 by Robert Wagner, an image-processing specialist at Intuitive Machines. While reviewing photographs from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera system, Wagner noticed a distinct bright spot encircled by a dark halo. This visual pattern indicated significant disruption of the surface material. Upon comparing historical imagery with recent data, the team confirmed that the crater appeared on the moon’s eastern limb sometime between April 11 and May 22, 2024.

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Measurements indicate the new depression is 728 feet in diameter, a span slightly wider than two American football fields placed end-to-end. The feature also reaches a depth of 141 feet. Scientists estimate that the impactor was an asteroid or comet roughly the size of a three- to six-story building. Such events are infrequent; researchers calculate that a crater of this magnitude forms on the moon approximately once every 132 years. The timing of the impact coincided with the operational lifespan of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, allowing for both pre- and post-event documentation.

The scientific community has named the feature McGetchin Crater in honor of Tom McGetchin, a pioneering lunar scientist who passed away in 1979. Tyler Powell, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, noted that observing such an event is exceptionally fortunate given its rarity. The ability to study the region before and after the impact offers a unique dataset for understanding how large craters develop and evolve over time.

Follow-up observations using the Diviner thermal instrument on the orbiter revealed lasting changes to the local environment. A four-mile-wide area surrounding the crater remains approximately 16 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the surrounding terrain during lunar nights. This temperature anomaly is attributed to the impact fluffing up the regolith, or moon dirt. The reduced density of this disturbed material diminishes its capacity to retain heat, creating a persistent thermal signature that extends well beyond the crater's immediate rim.

The physical reach of the impact extends far beyond the visible crater. Ejected material was found to have disturbed the surface more than 75 miles from the point of impact. This widespread disruption underscores the extensive effects of incoming space rocks on the lunar landscape. For engineers and mission planners, understanding these properties is crucial. The moon lacks an atmosphere to burn up incoming debris, making it vulnerable to all impactors, unlike Earth where most smaller objects disintegrate before reaching the ground.

These findings have direct implications for NASA’s Artemis program and other initiatives aimed at establishing a permanent human presence on the moon. Mark Robinson, part of the LRO camera team, emphasized the need to calculate risks associated with debris from such impacts hitting future lunar bases. The data helps scientists assess the safety of rovers, astronauts, and infrastructure in regions that may be affected by ejecta or thermal changes resulting from large collisions.

While this natural event dominates recent headlines, it is not the only recent alteration to the lunar surface. On August 5, the moon was struck by a stray rocket part from SpaceX, creating another new divot. However, the McGetchin Crater represents a natural phenomenon that provides key insights into planetary dynamics and subsurface composition. As Sarah T. Stewart, a planetary scientist at Arizona State University, has noted, collisions are pervasive processes in planet formation and evolution, offering vital clues about internal structures and surface history.

Most lunar craters are ancient and have been heavily altered by subsequent impacts and the harsh space environment. Newer craters are typically too small to be studied effectively with current spacecraft imaging technology. The 2024 impact that created McGetchin Crater is therefore considered a statistically rare observation. It serves as a benchmark for understanding how large impacts reshape the lunar surface, providing a reference point for future studies of planetary geology and hazard assessment.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been collecting data on the moon’s topography, composition, temperature, and radiation environment since its launch in 2009. For nearly two decades, it has served as a critical tool for lunar science. The identification of McGetchin Crater highlights the continued value of long-term orbital monitoring. As missions prepare to return humans to the moon, such detailed observations will remain essential for ensuring safety and understanding the dynamic nature of our celestial neighbor.

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  • Smithsonian Magazine↗The Moon Just Got a Massive New Crater That's Wider Than Two End-to-End Football Fields. It's a 'Once-in-a-Lifetime Observation'