What a Massive New Crater Means for Future Moon Bases
Scientists say a 9-to-21-meter impactor formed the crater, and debris from the strike spread more than 60 miles across the lunar surface.
- Scientists identified a new lunar crater named McGetchin near the Sea of Crises, formed between April 11 and May 22, 2024, by an object 21 metres across striking the surface.
- Unlike Earth, which burns up small objects through atmospheric friction, the lunar surface lacks an atmosphere to defend against cosmic debris, making impactors difficult to detect in advance.
- The 21 metre impactor caused an explosion equivalent to 15,500 tonnes of TNT, while ejected matter created trails radiating outward for more than 60 miles across the lunar surface.
- With Nasa and China planning nuclear-powered lunar bases in the 2030s, physicist Mark Boslough says debris poses a "significant risk to long-term operations on the moon."
- Two studies published September 16 in Science Advances detail secondary crater formation, with doctoral student Elisha Jhoti stating, "The ejecta blanket will be made up of a range of sizes.
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'We only expect to encounter that once every 130 years': A huge new crater on the moon could mean a giant leap for lunar science, veteran researcher says
Scientists using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) have discovered McGetchin crater, a giant new impact structure measuring more than 700 feet wide. LRO investigator Julie Stopar explains what the discovery could mean for humanity's future on the moon.
By CNN The lunar surface suffered a violent encounter with a comet or asteroid, and retains a huge scar that demonstrates it.The space rock, whose size would be equivalent to that of a three to six-storey building, struck the eastern edge of the Moon two years ago—between April 11th
McGetchin crater, formed on the Moon after impact of asteroid or comet in 2024NASA identifies crater of 220 meters on the Moon formed by rare impact of asteroid
One of the largest craters that scientists recently discovered on the moon continues to cause numerous reactions, and science journalist Fraser Cain shared new details of this endeavor.
NASA's discovery was made thanks to Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). It is believed that the asteroid (or comet) responsible for this crater has a dimension similar to a building between the three and the six floors.
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