{
  "id": 7911083,
  "title": "NASA scan discovers new, 'once in a century' Moon crater",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/nasa-scan-discovers-new-once-in-a-century-moon-crater",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-17T00:20:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/09/1534466/nasa-scan-discovers-new-once-century-moon-crater"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NASA scientists have identified a massive, recently-formed crater on the Moon, a rare event that occurs only once in a century or even longer, according to experts. The crater, named McGetchin, spans 730 feet (222 meters) in diameter, NASA announced in a blog post. Researchers believe it was formed in the spring of 2024 after a comet or asteroid impacted the lunar surface, with the impactor estimated to be the size of a building three-to-six stories high. Scientists estimate such impact events occur on the Moon about once in a century or longer. The crater had been present for years but was only discovered during a new scan of the Moon's surface by Robert Wagner, a NASA researcher using the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). The LRO, which has been studying the Moon since 2009, spotted the crater as a large bright spot surrounded by a dark halo. A study published in Science Advances revealed it as the largest new crater ever discovered in the solar system. While the Moon contains numerous craters, many larger than McGetchin, studying its formation in real-time enhances our understanding of lunar geology, potentially aiding future crewed missions to the Moon by both the United States and China. Unlike Earth, the Moon lacks an atmosphere, so space debris remains unaffected by slowing down or burning up before striking the surface.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON, (United States): A researcher at NASA has found a massive, recently-formed crater on the Moon, a rare occurrence that only happens “once in a century or even longer,” according to scientists.",
  "key_points": [
    "McGetchin crater discovered on Moon, 730 feet in diameter",
    "Crater formed in spring 2024 from comet or asteroid impact",
    "Largest new crater ever found in solar system"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Nasa scan discovers new, ‘once in a century’ Moon crater",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/nasa-scan-discovers-new-once-in-a-century-moon-crater-7918530",
        "published": "2026-09-17T00:38:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "NASA discovers new, massive crater on the Moon",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/nasa-discovers-new-massive-crater-on-the-moon",
        "published": "2026-09-17T01:36:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}