NASA Discovers Massive New Moon Crater, Largest in Recent History
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter finds a colossal crater on the moon, bigger than the Colosseum, offering new insights into lunar impacts.
POLICY WIRE — Cape Canaveral, United States — A newly discovered crater on the moon, larger than the Roman Colosseum, has been identified by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The impact, which occurred two years ago, was initially undetected but now offers significant scientific insight as the agency prepares for future lunar missions.
The crater, measuring 728 feet (222 meters) across and up to 141 feet (43 meters) deep, is the largest known impact crater in recent times. Scientists say such an event occurs only once every 132 years, making this discovery a rare opportunity to study the moon’s surface and its geological history.
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Named after the late Thomas McGetchin, the crater is three times larger than the previous record holder found by the LRO. Researchers are now analyzing how this impact has altered the lunar soil, with implications for planning future human bases on the moon. The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
