McGetchin Crater Identified as Largest New Impact in Solar System

It started as a routine data-quality check on a computer screen. Robert Wagner, an image-processing specialist from Intuitive Machines working with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera system, was examining a giant lunar map when an unusual feature caught his eye. An exceptionally bright spot circled by a dark halo stood out against the surrounding landscape, signaling that surface material had been violently shaken up.

When Wagner compared older and newer images of the region, he realized he was looking at a freshly carved impact crater. Scientists reported the discovery in Science Advances, confirming it as the largest newly formed impact crater ever identified in the solar system, according to reporting published on September 16.

McGetchin Crater Dimensions and Rare Impact Frequency

Officially named McGetchin in honor of pioneering lunar scientist Tom McGetchin, the crater is located near the Moon’s eastern edge. It was created sometime between April 11 and May 22, 2024, when a space rock roughly the size of a three- to six-story building slammed into the surface.

The impact carved out a massive depression measuring 728 feet wide—spanning the length of two football fields. Reaching a depth of 141 feet, the crater could easily accommodate three yellow school buses stacked vertically.

Researchers estimate that an impact of this sheer magnitude occurs on the lunar surface only about once per century, or even less frequently.

Scientists estimate that an impact of this magnitude happens on the Moon about once in a century or even longer, according to the source. The LRO mission’s ability to observe the region before and after the impact has provided valuable data.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Track Record and Constant Bombardment

With no atmosphere to slow down incoming meteors, asteroids, or comets, the lunar surface takes a constant, unshielded beating from space debris. For more than 17 years, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has circled the Moon using its seven onboard instruments to map topography, surface composition, temperature, and radiation.

Throughout its operational lifetime, the spacecraft’s team has identified at least 1,000 new impact craters. They have also cataloged approximately 100,000 additional surface changes caused either by direct impacts or by debris flung outward during collisions.

• Most incoming rocks are far smaller than the object that created McGetchin.
• The smallest craters reliably detected in LRO images measure about 30 feet across—equivalent to a three-story building laid on its side—and are carved by rocks roughly 43 inches wide, or about the size of a monster-truck tire.
• Scientists estimate that impacts of this smaller scale generate about 140 new craters across the Moon every year, alongside countless microscopic strikes that leave holes too tiny to resolve from orbit.

Diviner Thermal Observations Reveal a Four-Mile Cold Spot

The orbiter’s capabilities extend far beyond standard optical cameras. Following the discovery, researchers turned the spacecraft’s thermal instrument, Diviner, toward the impact site to measure surface temperatures.

Those thermal scans uncovered a striking anomaly: an area spanning roughly 4 miles around the crater is about 14 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit (8 to 9 kelvins) colder at night than the surrounding terrain.

In a companion paper published in the same journal, researchers explained the mechanics behind the anomaly. The violent impact churned up and decompacted the upper layers of lunar soil, creating a layer of regolith that is less dense and significantly less able to retain heat after sunset.

The immense scale of this thermal cold spot surprised investigators, demonstrating that major impacts alter lunar physical properties far beyond the immediate crater rim. These altered surface conditions carry practical implications for future lunar exploration, as variations in regolith density and texture could influence how rover wheels and robotic equipment interact with the terrain as NASA works toward establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon.