NASA identifies a huge new crater on the moon
NASA says its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter found a newly formed crater on the moon’s near side from an impact in 2024. The crater is about 728 feet wide and 141 feet deep, making it the largest known recent impact crater in the solar system.
Researchers said the impact likely came from an asteroid or comet fragment roughly the size of a three- to six-story building. The strike happened sometime between April 11 and May 22, 2024, but was not detected in real time by telescopes. NASA later spotted it in orbiter images, with the feature identified in August 2025 and confirmed after higher-resolution follow-up imaging.
The crater, named McGetchin, is about three times larger than the previous recent-impact record holder found by the orbiter. Scientists estimate an event this large happens only about once every 132 years. NASA said the impact also disturbed the lunar surface for more than 66 miles, a finding that could add to research on lunar soil as the agency prepares future moon missions.
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