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NASA Discovers Largest New Moon Crater
Confirmed
In Short: A massive, recently-formed crater on the Moon, dubbed 'McGetchin,' has been discovered by NASA, marking a rare event that occurs only once in a century.
A researcher at NASA has identified a new crater on the Moon, named 'McGetchin,' which measures 730 feet wide, according to a report by Le Monde.fr.
The crater was first noticed by Robert Wagner, a researcher with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), during a new scan of the Moon's surface. Wagner described the crater as a 'large bright spot circled by a dark halo.
Scientists estimate that such an impact occurs on the Moon approximately once every century, making the discovery significant for understanding the Moon's geology and preparing for future crewed missions.
The crater, believed to have been created by a comet or asteroid in the spring of 2024, is the largest new crater ever discovered in the solar system, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances.
Unlike Earth, the Moon lacks an atmospheric layer, allowing space debris to collide with its surface without slowing down or burning up. This makes the Moon a prime location for studying the effects of such impacts.
The discovery of the crater, which is larger than the Roman Colosseum, is a valuable resource for NASA as it prepares to build a base for astronauts on the Moon. Researchers estimate that such large-scale events occur only once every 132 years, making this a unique opportunity for scientific study.
The LRO's numerous crater discoveries since its launch in 2009 indicate that the Moon's top inch of soil is being overturned by ejected material every 80,000 years, faster than previously thought, according to Robinson.
What's confirmed
- A researcher at NASA has identified a new crater on the Moon, named 'McGetchin,' which measures 730 feet wide, according to a report by Le Monde.fr.
- The crater was first noticed by Robert Wagner, a researcher with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), during a new scan of the Moon's surface. Wagner described the crater as a 'large bright spot circled by a dark halo.
- Scientists estimate that such an impact occurs on the Moon approximately once every century, making the discovery significant for understanding the Moon's geology and preparing for future crewed missions.
- The crater, believed to have been created by a comet or asteroid in the spring of 2024, is the largest new crater ever discovered in the solar system, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances.
- Unlike Earth, the Moon lacks an atmospheric layer, allowing space debris to collide with its surface without slowing down or burning up. This makes the Moon a prime location for studying the effects of such impacts.
- The discovery of the crater, which is larger than the Roman Colosseum, is a valuable resource for NASA as it prepares to build a base for astronauts on the Moon. Researchers estimate that such large-scale events occur only once every 132 years, making this a unique opportunity for scientific study.
- The LRO's numerous crater discoveries since its launch in 2009 indicate that the Moon's top inch of soil is being overturned by ejected material every 80,000 years, faster than previously thought, according to Robinson.
What's still developing
- While the Moon has numerous craters, many of which are far bigger than McGetchin, researching a crater's formation in real time can help build understanding of the Moon's geology.
- This in turn could better prepare future crewed missions to the Moon, which are currently planned by both the United States and China.