NASA's LRO discovers largest modern-day impact crater on Moon, named McGetchin

Discovery of the McGetchin Crater

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) detected a new impact crater on the lunar surface. The crater, formed by an asteroid or comet impact between April 11 and May 22, 2024, is approximately the size of a three- to six-story building. NASA scientist Robert Wagner identified the change in LRO images taken in October 2025, leading to its official naming as the McGetchin crater.

Scale and Rarity of the Impact

The McGetchin crater measures 728 feet wide and 141 feet deep, making it the largest modern-day crater observed in the solar system. While not the largest overall lunar crater, impacts of this magnitude are estimated to occur only once every 132 years, highlighting the rarity of this event for scientific study.

Impact on Lunar Surface Properties

Subsequent observations by the LRO's narrow-angle camera in December 2025 provided detailed images of the crater. A team of scientists studying the McGetchin crater found that a 4-mile-wide area surrounding it is about 16 degrees Fahrenheit cooler at night. This temperature difference is attributed to the impact disturbing the regolith, the Moon's upper surface layer, making it less dense and reducing its heat retention capacity.

Implications for Future Lunar Missions

The altered thermal properties of the regolith near new craters could influence how rover wheels interact with the lunar surface. This discovery offers valuable data for understanding the long-term effects of impacts and their implications for future lunar exploration and mission planning.