Scientists Discover New Crater on the Moon, Bigger Than the Roman Colosseum, That Was Created in a ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Impact

Key Points:

• Scientists have discovered a massive new crater on the moon, named McGetchin, measuring about 728 feet across and 141 feet deep, formed between April 11 and May 22, 2024, likely caused by an asteroid or comet fragment the size of a three- to six-story building.
• Such a large impact on the moon is extremely rare, occurring roughly once every 132 years, and was only identified after the fact by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera images reviewed in October 2025.
• The impact altered a much larger area than the crater itself, creating a roughly 4-mile-wide "cold spot" where temperatures are 14 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit cooler at night due to changes in the lunar surface's physical and thermal properties.
• These findings provide valuable insights into the moon's regolith, showing that the disturbed surface material became less dense and less able to retain heat, which could affect rover mobility and the safety of future lunar equipment and infrastructure.
• The discovery offers important data for planning future moon missions by helping scientists understand how debris from impacts spreads and how surface changes impact lunar exploration technology.