New 728-Foot Lunar Crater Identified, Scientists Say Impact Occurs Once Every 132 Years
Researchers have identified a 728-foot-wide crater on the Moon formed by a rare impact between April and May 2024, offering new data on lunar surface changes and future mission planning.
Scientists have identified a new crater on the Moon measuring about 728 feet (222 meters) across and 141 feet (43 meters) deep. The feature, named McGetchin in honor of the late lunar scientist Thomas McGetchin, is believed to have formed between April 11 and May 22, 2024, after a fragment roughly the size of a three- to six-story building struck the lunar surface, according to a study published in Science Advances on Sept. 16.
Researchers estimate that impacts of this magnitude occur on the Moon roughly once every 132 years. The collision was not observed in real time, but image-processing specialist Robert Wagner of Intuitive Machines detected the new formation while reviewing Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera data on Oct. 24, 2025. Wagner said he "stopped, dropped everything and started looking into what that spot was" after noticing a distinct debris pattern.
Analysis of before-and-after images confirmed the crater’s appearance and revealed that the impact altered a surrounding area far larger than the crater itself. A second study, also in Science Advances, reported a roughly four-mile-wide "cold spot" around McGetchin, with nighttime temperatures 14 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit lower than adjacent terrain. The impact also appears to have loosened the upper regolith layer, reducing its density and heat-retention capacity.
NASA noted that such changes could affect the performance of rover wheels and other equipment, emphasizing the importance of understanding debris dispersal for future lunar missions.