A massive space rock measuring between a three- and six-story building collided with the eastern limb of the Moon, leaving behind a freshly scarred crater 222 meters wide and 43 meters deep, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances. Researchers identified the formation, named McGetchin crater after late Apollo-era scientist Dr. Thomas McGetchin, using long-running data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The McGetchin Crater Impact Event and Statistics
The impact occurred between April 11 and May 22, 2024, though researchers did not detect the collision at the exact time it happened. According to the study authors, the resulting depression spans roughly the length of two football fields and provides enough depth to stack three school buses vertically. Models of crater formation indicate that an impact of this magnitude happens only once every 132 years on the lunar surface, making it an exceptionally rare, effectively once-in-a-lifetime observation for modern astronomers.
How NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Located the Scar
Unlike Earth, the Moon lacks a protective atmosphere to shield it from continuous space rock bombardment over billions of years, leaving its surface heavily cratered. Finding a single new depression among countless existing formations required prolonged observation. Scientists utilized data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a spacecraft operating in a pole-to-pole circuit since 2009, to spot a prominent bright spot surrounded by a dark halo, as detailed by co-author Mark Robinson, principal investigator for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter camera at Intuitive Machines.
Did you know? The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter uses seven distinct onboard instruments to map lunar temperature, surface composition, topography, and radiation from an altitude of roughly 97 kilometers.
Implications for Future Lunar Exploration
The discovery underscores that the Moon remains an active target for frequent impacts that require continuous tracking. As NASA and various international space agencies target the lunar surface for ongoing human exploration and infrastructure development, monitoring recent craters helps scientists assess potential safety hazards for future missions and equipment deployed to the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the McGetchin crater impact occur?
The collision took place between April 11 and May 22, 2024, although researchers discovered the resulting crater months later using orbital data.
How large is the McGetchin crater?
According to the study in Science Advances, the crater measures 222 meters wide and 43 meters deep.
What instrument was used to discover the crater?
Scientists used data and imagery captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which has orbited the Moon for more than 17 years.
Why is this impact considered rare?
Study authors noted that impact models suggest a space rock of this scale strikes the Moon only once every 132 years.
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