NASA orbiter confirms rare 220-meter impact crater on the Moon
NASA detected an unprecedented geological cavity on the surface of the Moon produced by an energetic cosmic collision between April 11 and May 22, 2024. Planetary scientists estimate that kinetic events of this magnitude occur on the lunar terrain only once every century.
Dimensions and origin of the McGetchin depression
The resulting landform, designated McGetchin, measures 220 meters across and reaches a vertical depth of 43 meters following the direct strike of a celestial projectile. Orbital telemetry showed that the incoming body matched the volume of an urban residential building of three to six stories.
Intuitive Machines researcher Robert Wagner identified the structure while analyzing routine photographic data collected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. A sudden disparity in geological brightness framed by an irregular boundary revealed the site of ground disturbance.
Wagner stated that he immediately set aside his ongoing tasks to examine the newly appeared surface anomaly.
Structural records captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Technical assessments established that McGetchin represents the largest fresh impact depression documented across the Solar System since modern surveillance began. Spacecraft instruments have tracked ongoing surface evolution since entering lunar orbit over 17 years ago:
- The orbiter cataloged at least 1,000 newly formed primary impact craters across the lunar crust.
- Sensor suites recorded approximately 100,000 distinct surface disturbances produced by flying ejecta.
- Automated surveys identify smaller nine-meter cavities roughly 140 times each calendar year.
Frequent meteoroid collisions strike the Moon due to the absence of a substantial atmosphere capable of decelerating orbital debris. The surrounding ground lost heat.
Thermal variations recorded across adjacent terrain
Thermal sensors registered physical anomalies extending 6.4 kilometers outward from the impact rim, where nighttime surface temperatures remain approximately 9°C lower than adjacent undisturbed plains. This widespread chill stems from the violent displacement of dense topsoil during the excavation event.
The explosive disruption scattered the native regolith layer across adjacent terrain, significantly reducing the bulk density of surface dust and limiting the natural thermal inertia that normally enables lunar soil to store solar energy throughout the night. Future robotic navigation models will utilize the ballistic measurements, which researchers detailed through Science Advances.
