NASA discovered the “once in a century” Moon crater by comparing years of lunar photographs from two different types of cameras
The space agency analyzed millions of pixels taken by an ultra-wide-angle and mega-telephoto setup over 14 years, proving that, sometimes, one rig just isn’t enough to get the job done
NASA recently announced the discovery of a newly formed lunar crater, officially named McGetchin crater, which appeared around April or May 2024. The impact site is approximately 728 feet (222 meters) in diameter and 141 feet (43 meters) deep, marking a rare event in lunar history. The crater was not detected by a spacecraft actively observing the impact, but rather by a comparison of images taken over a span of 15 years using two different camera systems.
NASA image processing specialist Robert Wagner made the initial discovery by comparing Wide-Angle Camera (WAC) frames from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) taken in 2011 and 2025. The bright spot, surrounded by a dark halo, was seen as an unusually large impact zone. Further investigation with the LROC’s Narrow-Angle Cameras (NACs) revealed detailed information about the crater, including its size, shape, and the ejecta surrounding it.
Experts estimate the impactor was likely between the size of a three- to six-story building, possibly a fragment from a larger asteroid. The discovery highlights the importance of using multiple camera systems for comprehensive lunar analysis, as even the LRO, which has been studying the Moon for nearly two decades, sometimes requires different tools to uncover new findings.
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