New Lunar Crater Offers Keys To Moon’s Shallow Subsurface
Asteroids which strike the Moon and create new craters offer lunar scientists a window onto the workings of our natural satellite’s shallow subsurface.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has discovered a newly formed crater on the Moon's near side, approximately 330 kilometers from the edge of Mare Crisium. The impact that created McGetchin Crater is believed to have occurred in spring 2024 and was only detected in LRO images last year. The crater spans 728 feet in width and is the largest new crater discovered by LRO since its orbit began in 2009.
The impact likely excavated deep beneath the Moon's outer surface, providing valuable insights into the lunar subsurface. Erik Asphaug, a planetary scientist, noted that this crater could serve as a treasure trove for lunar geology, as it is the largest new crater found by LRO.
The ejecta from McGetchin Crater extends far beyond the crater itself, providing new information for planning sustainable infrastructure on the lunar surface. Scientists have found a 4-mile-wide area around the crater that is significantly cooler at night compared to its surroundings, suggesting that the impact disturbed the lunar regolith extensively.
This cold spot, about 7 km in diameter, is formed due to the disturbance of the regolith. Such cold spots have been known for decades and serve as reliable markers of the youngest impact craters on the Moon. The cold spot around McGetchin Crater enables investigations of regolith thickness, the recent impact cratering rate, and potential source craters for lunar meteorites found on Earth.
Written by urgent.news from Universe Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
