LRO Spots Fresh Lunar Crater From Rare Century-Scale Impact
TL;DR
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter confirmed a newly formed crater on the Moon, named McGetchin, created by an impact between April 11 and May 22, 2024. The crater measures about 728 feet (222 meters) across and 141 feet (43 meters) deep, making it the largest modern‑day lunar crater, though not the Moon’s largest overall. Such impacts are estimated to occur roughly every 132 years. Follow-up images show a four‑mile‑wide area around the crater that remains about 16°F cooler at night, likely from disturbed regolith, which could affect rover-wheel interactions near fresh craters.
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