Moon Witnessed Rare Asteroid Impact in ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Event

A massive asteroid struck the moon in 2024, creating a crater twice the size of a football field. Scientists analyze the impact's significance.

Editorial Desk

September 17, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — City, Country — A rare celestial event unfolded on the moon in 2024 when an asteroid the size of six city blocks collided with its surface, leaving behind a newly formed crater that spans the length of two football fields.

Experts have been studying the impact site, which has provided valuable insights into the moon’s geological composition. The collision was captured by astronomers who had previously tracked the space rock, which measures between 2,461 and 5,413 feet wide—roughly equivalent to two to four Empire State Buildings in size.

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The asteroid, identified as 6 Hebe, is one of the larger bodies in the main asteroid belt and holds about 0.5% of the total mass of the region. While it does not rank among the top twenty asteroids by volume, its density is higher than that of the moon. Meanwhile, 16 Psyche, another significant asteroid, was first discovered in 1852 and is known for being one of the most massive M-type asteroids in the solar system.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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