NASA Orbiter Unveils Moon's Largest Crater From Asteroid Impact
WHO:
IJR - NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) team, including scientist Robert Wagner.
WHAT:
NASA - Studies published in Science Advances highlight the rarity of the crater McGetchin and its ejecta patterns, emphasizing the ongoing value of LRO imagery for understanding the Moon’s dynamic surface ahead of future exploration.
CBS News Space - The newly discovered crater is described as being bigger than the Roman Colosseum.
NY Post - The crater is the result of a powerful impact that initially went undetected.
NASA - The crater McGetchin is described as a "once-in-century" discovery due to its size and the impact's effects on the lunar surface.
IJR - The newly identified crater, named McGetchin, is about 222 meters (728 feet) across and roughly 43 meters deep.
NASA - The crater is described as the solar system’s largest recently formed impact crater, created in 2024 by an asteroid or comet.
New Scientist Space - The impact flung rocks up to 120 kilometers from the crater.
WHERE:
IJR - The crater is located on the Moon.
WHEN:
IJR - The crater was created in 2024.
WHY:
NASA - The crater's ejecta patterns and the ongoing value of LRO imagery are significant for understanding the Moon’s dynamic surface ahead of future exploration.
HOW:
NASA - The discovery was made during a routine data-quality check when Robert Wagner noticed an unusually large bright spot on the Moon's surface, indicating disturbed material.
NASA - The crater was discovered during a routine data-quality check of LRO imagery, where an unusually large bright spot circled by a dark halo indicated that surface material had been disturbed.
(UPDATED September 17, 2026 08:59 UTC)
NASA has published studies in Science Advances that emphasize the rarity of the McGetchin crater and its unique ejecta patterns. These findings highlight the ongoing importance of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter imagery in enhancing our understanding of the Moon’s dynamic surface. This research is particularly valuable as we prepare for future exploration missions to the Moon.
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(UPDATED September 17, 2026 07:10 UTC)
A newly discovered crater, larger than the Roman Colosseum, has been identified following a powerful impact that initially went unnoticed. This significant finding was reported by CBS News Space and highlights the ongoing exploration and study of our planet's surface. The crater's discovery underscores the importance of monitoring impacts that can occur without immediate detection.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 23:04 UTC)
NASA has announced a remarkable discovery of the McGetchin crater, which is being hailed as a "once-in-century" find due to its impressive size and the significant effects it has had on the lunar surface. This discovery came about during a routine data-quality check when scientist Robert Wagner spotted an unusually large bright spot on the Moon, suggesting disturbed material. The finding highlights the ongoing exploration and study of our celestial neighbor, revealing new insights into its geological history.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 22:03 UTC)
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter team, including scientist Robert Wagner, has identified a newly formed crater on the Moon, named McGetchin, which measures about 222 meters across and 43 meters deep. This crater, created in 2024 by an asteroid or comet, is noted as the solar system’s largest recently formed impact crater, with debris ejected up to 120 kilometers away. The discovery was made during a routine data-quality check of LRO imagery, where a bright spot surrounded by a dark halo indicated that the surface material had been disturbed, providing valuable insights for future lunar exploration.