NASA · Space

New Lunar Crater McGetchin Formed by Impact

A significant impact event has created a new crater on the Moon, observed by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

An object approximately 10-20 meters in size, comparable to a humpback whale, struck the Moon between April and May 2024. The impact resulted in a crater spanning two soccer fields, named McGetchin after a lunar scientist.

Craters of this magnitude are rare, occurring on average once every 132 years. Follow-up thermal imaging showed a cold spot surrounding the warm crater, indicating that the impact puffed up the lunar regolith, making it less dense and affecting heat retention over a larger area than the visible crater.

This event provides valuable data for understanding surface impacts and lunar surface evolution. It also serves as a reminder of the protective role Earth's atmosphere plays.

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