A NASA spacecraft just found a giant new crater on the moon. Here's why everyone's talking about the 'once-in-a-century' discovery
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has identified the McGetchin crater, the largest newly formed impact crater ever discovered in the solar system. Formed in 2024, the crater provides scientists with a rare opportunity to study the immediate effects of a lunar impact.
Why it matters
This discovery offers unprecedented data on lunar surface changes and the frequency of significant asteroid impacts in our solar system.
"McGetchin crater is exceptional because it is the largest newly formed impact crater that has been identified to date."
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works .
Click for next article A view from the side of the crater toward the east, taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's Narrow-Angle Camera on March 3, 2026. This entire image shows an area about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) wide on the moon. (Image credit: NASA Goddard/Intuitive Machines) Copy link Reddit Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter A newly discovered crater on the moon is giving scientists a rare glimpse into the immediate aftermath of a lunar impact.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in