NASA’s Moon Orbiter Spots New, ‘Once-in-Century’ Moon Crater
Published · Updated
Cited: AP News, NASA Science (.gov), Sky News
TL;DR
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter discovered a 728-foot-wide crater on the Moon, formed by a building-sized asteroid impact in 2024—a once-in-a-century event.
Why now
The discovery, announced in Science Advances in 2026, provides fresh evidence of the Moon's ongoing geological activity and has direct implications for the safety of upcoming Artemis crewed missions.
Agree / conflict
Some researchers argue that impacts of this size are too rare to affect Artemis planning, while others stress that even one could endanger astronauts. The cold-spot finding adds a new layer of complexity.
Takeaway
Space agencies must incorporate large-impact risk assessments into lunar base designs, and continued monitoring by LRO is critical.
On September 16, 2026, NASA scientists announced the discovery of McGetchin, the largest new impact crater ever found on the Moon in real time. The crater was created when a comet or asteroid roughly the size of a six-story building slammed into the lunar surface between April and May 2024. The impact left a hole 728 feet across and 141 feet deep, and scientists estimate such an event occurs only once a century.
Beyond the crater itself, researchers found a surprising 4-mile-wide 'cold spot' around McGetchin—an area where the surface is 16 degrees Fahrenheit cooler at night. This cooling is caused by the impact fluffing up the regolith, making it less dense and less able to retain heat. The finding, published in Science Advances, shows that impacts can modify the Moon's surface far beyond the visible crater, potentially affecting how rover wheels grip the ground and how astronauts might build infrastructure.
FAQ
How was the crater discovered?
Robert Wagner spotted an unusually large bright spot while comparing global Moon maps from LRO's Wide-Angle Camera. After verification with Narrow-Angle Camera images, the crater was confirmed.
How big was the object that hit?
The impacting object was about the size of a three- to six-story building (roughly 30–60 feet across).
How often do such impacts occur on the Moon?
Scientists estimate impacts of this magnitude happen about once a century or even longer.
Why is the area around the crater cooler?
The impact fluffed up the regolith, making it less dense and less able to retain heat, creating a 4-mile-wide 'cold spot' about 16°F cooler at night.
What does this mean for future lunar exploration?
Understanding impact effects on the surface is vital for planning safe landing sites, rover operations, and habitat construction for Artemis missions.
Sources
Canonical URL: /trend/2026/nasa-s-moon-orbiter-spots-new-once-in-century-moon-crater
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