NASA Identifies Massive New Impact Crater on Lunar Surface

A routine analysis of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter data has revealed a massive, previously undocumented crater on the Moon. Robert Wagner, an image-processing specialist, identified the feature—now officially named McGetchin—after spotting a distinct bright spot and dark halo while reviewing high-resolution lunar maps.

Editorial·September 18, 2026·reads: 662

NASA Identifies Massive New Impact Crater on Lunar Surface

The crater, which spans 728 feet in diameter, emerged on the Moon's eastern edge between April 11 and May 22, 2024. Researchers believe the impact originated from a comet or asteroid roughly the size of a three- to six-story building. Findings published in Science Advances suggest that such significant lunar impacts occur only once every century or longer.

This discovery adds to a growing catalog of lunar surface changes. Over the past 17 years, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission has identified at least 1,000 new craters and tracked 100,000 instances of surface debris movement. The data provides scientists with critical insights into the frequency of celestial strikes in the solar system, reinforcing the importance of long-term orbital observation.