NASA Discovers Massive New Moon Crater in Serendipitous Find
WHO:
Space - Mark Robinson is the lead author of one of the studies detailing the crater.
Space - Tyler Powell is the lead author of another study related to the crater.
WHAT:
Space - The crater's formation resulted in an extensive ejecta blanket surrounding it, as revealed by LROC observations.
Space - Data from LRO's Diviner Lunar Radiometer indicated a broader thermal anomaly around the crater, with a "cold spot" measuring roughly 4.3 miles (7 kilometers) wide.
Space - The temperature difference around the crater is about 14 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit (8 to 9 kelvins) colder than the surrounding surface during the lunar night, attributed to changes in the upper layers of lunar soil caused by the impact.
Space - The crater's pristine condition could make it an intriguing target for future lunar exploration, particularly due to its location along a boundary between the moon's darker, basalt-covered mare and brighter highlands terrain.
Space - Observations from the surface of McGetchin crater would allow scientists to correlate orbital data with small-scale changes to surface texture and the distribution of ejected material.
CNET - NASA discovered a new crater on the Moon, named McGetchin crater.
Space - McGetchin crater measures about 728 feet (222 meters) across and roughly 141 feet (43 meters) deep.
Space - The crater is the largest newly formed impact crater identified by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the largest ever found in the solar system.
Space - The impact that created McGetchin crater is expected to occur on the Moon only about once every century.
Space - The findings are detailed in two studies published on September 16 in the journal Science Advances.
WHERE:
Space - The crater is located on the Moon.
WHEN:
Space - McGetchin crater formed sometime between April 11 and May 22 in the year 2024.
Space - The crater was first discovered in 2025 by researchers comparing LRO images.
WHY:
Space - Understanding how impacts modify the surface and their surroundings is important for interpreting lunar geology and history.
Space - The pristine condition of McGetchin crater provides a valuable reference point for understanding how craters form and evolve.
HOW:
Space - The impact that created McGetchin crater is expected to occur on the Moon only about once every century, making this discovery exceptionally rare.
Space - NASA's LRO mission has been observing the Moon for more than 17 years, allowing researchers to identify subtle changes before and after the impact.
Space - Observations from LRO's Diviner instrument revealed a roughly 4.3-mile-wide (7-kilometer-wide) "cold spot" around the crater, which is about 14 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit (8 to 9 kelvins) colder than the surrounding surface during the lunar night.
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 11:57 UTC)
Recent observations from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have revealed that the formation of a new crater has created an extensive ejecta blanket surrounding it. Data from the LRO's Diviner Lunar Radiometer shows a broader thermal anomaly around the crater, featuring a "cold spot" that measures approximately 4.3 miles wide. This cold spot is about 14 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit colder than the surrounding surface during the lunar night, a temperature difference attributed to changes in the upper layers of lunar soil resulting from the impact.
--
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 09:58 UTC)
Scientists have identified McGetchin crater as a promising target for future lunar exploration due to its pristine condition and unique location along the boundary of the moon's darker basalt-covered mare and brighter highlands. Observations from this crater could help researchers correlate orbital data with small-scale changes in surface texture and the distribution of ejected material. The impact that formed McGetchin is estimated to happen on the Moon only about once every century, highlighting the rarity of this discovery.
--
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 02:10 UTC)
NASA has discovered a new crater on the Moon, named McGetchin crater, which measures about 728 feet across and is the largest newly formed impact crater identified by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The crater, formed between April 11 and May 22 in 2024, is significant for understanding lunar geology and history, as it provides a pristine reference point for studying how impacts modify the surface. Detailed findings from two studies, authored by Mark Robinson and Tyler Powell, were published on September 16 in the journal Science Advances.