NASA Discovers Massive New Lunar Crater Caused by Undetected Asteroid Impact
- A massive asteroid or comet impact on the Moon created a 222-meter-wide crater between April 11 and May 22, 2024, according to research published in Science Advances.
- According to reporting from Aktuálně.cz and Lidovky.cz, the impact generated a crater approximately 222 meters wide and up to 43 meters deep on the Moon's near side.
- Beyond the immediate cavity, the impact disrupted the surrounding landscape across a broad radius.
A massive asteroid or comet impact on the Moon created a 222-meter-wide crater between April 11 and May 22, 2024, according to research published in Science Advances. No Earth or space telescopes captured the impact moment itself, but NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter subsequently identified the site by comparing past and present imagery.
Discovery of the McGetchin Crater
According to reporting from Aktuálně.cz and Lidovky.cz, the impact generated a crater approximately 222 meters wide and up to 43 meters deep on the Moon’s near side. Scientists calculated that debris flew across a distance of 120 kilometers. The feature has been named McGetchin Crater to honor the late Thomas McGetchin, who previously directed the Lunar and Planetary Institute located in Houston. Data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)—which has photographed the lunar surface since 2009—revealed the alteration during archival comparisons. Authors of the study noted that an event of this magnitude is statistically rare, occurring roughly once every 132 years. The newly formed crater triples the size of the previous record-holding impact discovered by LRO a decade prior.
Lunar Gardening and Surface Alteration
Beyond the immediate cavity, the impact disrupted the surrounding landscape across a broad radius. Ejecta flew out at wider angles than researchers initially anticipated, and a cooler zone spanning seven kilometers was detected around the site. David Paige, a co-author of the research from the University of California, Los Angeles, described the process to reporters as a form of lunar gardening that turns over and mixes subsurface sediment. Mark Robinson, principal investigator for the LRO camera system, explained that such impacts gradually rewrite the lunar surface. While popular belief suggests astronaut footprints from the Apollo program remain undisturbed forever due to the lack of wind and water, continuous meteoroid bombardment slowly churns the top two centimeters of soil every 80,000 years.
Implications for Future Missions
NASA intends to establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface, making impact dynamics a critical engineering concern. Researchers are analyzing how flying debris and high-speed ejecta travel across long distances to help planners build more robust habitats. Understanding these risks will allow engineers to reinforce structures against impacts from distant asteroid strikes before astronauts attempt extended stays on the Moon.
