A New Lunar Crater: The Impact of McGetchin

The photograph this article describes is by Intuitive Machines with NASA/GSFC and isn’t shown here. View the original photograph

The Moon has gained a new feature: the McGetchin crater, named after a prominent Apollo-era lunar scientist. This crater emerged following the impact of a comet or asteroid, estimated to be the size of a humpback whale, which struck the Moon between April and May of 2024. Captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), the crater spans approximately two soccer fields in diameter. Such impacts are rare, occurring approximately once every 132 years, and provide valuable insights into the processes shaping the lunar surface.

Understanding Lunar Impacts

The formation of the McGetchin crater has provided scientists with a unique opportunity to study the effects of surface impacts on the Moon. The impact not only created a visible crater but also a surrounding cold spot detected through thermal imaging. This phenomenon occurs because the impact disturbs the lunar regolith (loose surface material), making it less dense and less capable of retaining heat. This event highlights the dynamic nature of the lunar surface and contributes to our understanding of how such impacts influence planetary bodies without atmospheres.

Explore the Moon with Orbital Radar

For those interested in observing the Moon and its features, tools like the Moon Globe on Orbital Radar offer real-time views of the lunar surface and its orbiters. This tool can help enthusiasts track the Moon's position and explore its surface in detail, enhancing our appreciation of celestial events like the formation of the McGetchin crater.