NASA has released striking before-and-after images of the Moon‘s surface, revealing a rare lunar event with a new crater called McGetchin. Named after Thomas McGetchin, a former director of the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, this formation is statistically rare. Measuring approximately 728 feet across and 141 feet deep, McGetchin is the largest newly formed crater identified by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), only occurring about once every century. This extraordinary event is detailed in the journal Science Advances, per the Associated Press.
The Discovery of This Uncommon Event
The crater emerged between April 11 and May 22, 2024, following the impact of a fragment from an asteroid or comet. Despite its size, the impact went undetected by telescopes until LRO data revealed an unusually bright area with a dark halo, indicating recent disturbances. Robert Wagner, an LRO researcher, made the discovery during a routine check, as described in a NASA blog post. Initially unnoticed in wide-angle LRO images, the crater was confirmed in August 2025, when further data analysis provided high-resolution confirmation of the phenomenon.
For more on NASA’s discoveries, explore how Fermi’s Gamma-Ray View unveils the Moon shining brighter than the Sun.
At three times the width of the previous record holder, McGetchin’s formation also affected a vast surrounding area, spreading dust and rock over 60 miles. Most lunar craters are ancient and have been eroded by time, but McGetchin offers a unique opportunity for comparison because researchers have both pre- and post-impact images. It lies near the boundary between the Moon’s basalt plains and bright highlands, providing a potential study site for future missions to explore impact effects on varied lunar terrain. Such uncommon events are invaluable for advancing our knowledge of the Moon.
Ground observations by a rover or crew could offer insights beyond orbital data. Tyler Powell, lead author of one of the studies, tells Space.com that surface investigations could align orbital maps with minute surface changes, improving our grasp of impact cratering dynamics. Earlier in the year, LRO captured another lunar crater, this time a man-made one from a SpaceX rocket impact. These occurrences contribute to our understanding of such phenomena and their role in shaping the Moon’s surface.
Source: petapixel.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the McGetchin Crater on the Moon?
McGetchin Crater is a newly formed lunar crater, named after Thomas McGetchin, a former director of the Lunar and Planetary Institute. It is the largest newly formed crater identified by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, measuring approximately 728 feet across and 141 feet deep.
How often do craters like McGetchin occur on the Moon?
Craters like McGetchin are statistically rare and occur about once every century according to NASA’s findings.
When was the McGetchin Crater discovered?
The McGetchin Crater was discovered between April 11 and May 22, 2024, after the impact of a fragment from an asteroid or comet.