NASA Scientist Discovers Massive New Moon Crater by Chance
The 728-foot-wide crater is the largest new impact observed by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
1Accidental discovery of lunar landmark
NASA scientist Robert Wagner identified a massive new crater during routine data review of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) images. The 728-foot-wide impact site represents the largest fresh crater ever detected by LRO's 17-year mission. This discovery occurred while Wagner was verifying image quality rather than through targeted crater hunting, demonstrating how serendipity plays a role in space science.
2Unprecedented impact scale
The newly discovered crater measures more than twice the length of a football field (728 feet wide) and equals the height of three stacked school buses (141 feet deep). Statistical models suggest impacts of this magnitude occur only once every 132 years on the moon. The impacting object was estimated to be the size of a six-story building before atmospheric disintegration.
3Precise impact timeframe
Analysis of before-and-after images pinpointed the impact event between April 11 and May 22, 2024. The LRO's comprehensive lunar mapping capability, scanning the entire surface every 14 days, enabled this precise dating. This frequent coverage creates a continuous record of lunar surface changes, though smaller impacts below 30 feet often go undetected.
4Scientific significance
The crater's discovery provides valuable data for understanding impact frequency and energy distribution on airless bodies. Wagner published findings in Science Advances, noting such events offer rare opportunities to study fresh impact morphology. The moon's lack of atmosphere preserves crater features that would erode quickly on Earth.
5LRO's observational legacy
Since 2009, LRO has documented approximately 1,000 new impact craters and over 100,000 surface changes. The orbiter's high-resolution cameras can detect features as small as 30 feet across. This extensive dataset helps scientists calculate impact rates and assess hazards for future lunar missions and surface infrastructure.
6Naming the lunar feature
NASA honored the discovery by naming the crater McGetchin after Tom McGetchin, former director of the Lunar Science Institute. This follows space exploration tradition of memorializing significant contributors. The naming occurred despite 2024 being an active lunar year including Artemis missions and a SpaceX rocket impact.
7Comparative impact context
The McGetchin crater substantially exceeds the size of craters formed by recent human-made impacts, including a discarded SpaceX rocket. Its dimensions place it among the most significant natural lunar surface modifications observed in modern times. Such large impacts help calibrate models of meteoroid flux in the Earth-moon system.
8Future implications
This discovery underscores the value of sustained lunar monitoring as NASA prepares for Artemis missions. Understanding impact frequency informs habitat design and risk assessment for permanent lunar bases. The find also demonstrates how existing orbital assets continue yielding new science decades after launch.
Original article: CNET — NASA Scientist Discovers Massive New Moon Crater by Chance