NASA has discovered a huge crater on the Moon formed by an impact in 2024

NASA has identified a huge crater on the Moon, formed by an impact that occurred between April and May 2024 and initially went unnoticed. The crater, named McGetchin, is approximately 222 meters in diameter and up to 43 meters deep.

According to researchers, it is the largest recently formed crater discovered so far in the solar system. The impact was likely caused by a comet or asteroid, and an event of this magnitude is estimated to occur approximately once every 132 years.

The crater was discovered almost by chance by Robert Wagner, an American researcher analyzing data transmitted by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, the instrument aboard NASA’s probe that has been orbiting the Moon since 2009. On a map of the lunar surface, the researcher noticed an unusually large bright spot surrounded by a dark halo.

McGetchin is three times larger than the previous record-holder for a recently formed lunar crater and exceeds Rome’s Colosseum in size. The discovery provides important information about cosmic impacts and comes amid NASA’s plans to build a base for astronauts on the Moon.