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NASA scientists have discovered a new crater on the moon larger than Rome’s Colosseum, measuring 222 meters across and up to 43 meters deep, formed by an asteroid or comet impact two years ago. This rare event, which occurs approximately once every 132 years, was spotted by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) in May 2024 and confirmed early this year. The crater, named after Thomas McGetchin, reveals that such impacts can significantly churn the lunar surface and affect its regolith, challenging previous beliefs about the stability of moon dust.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) discovered a massive crater on the moon's near side, larger than the Roman Colosseum, measuring about 728 feet across and up to 141 feet deep, in May 2024. The impact that formed this crater was caused by an asteroid or comet fragment roughly the size of a three- to six-story building. This event is estimated to occur only once every 132 years, making it a rare opportunity for researchers studying lunar geology and future moon missions. The crater was initially missed by Earth-based telescopes but spotted later in data analysis, providing valuable insights into the moon's surface changes as NASA plans to establish a base there.
Written for “Moon Crater Discovery” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
NASA satellite discovers a new crater on the moon that's bigger than the Colosseum
'This event constitutes a statistically rare, effectively once-in-a-lifetime observation,' scientists write
Scientists have discovered a crater on the moon that's bigger than the Roman Colosseum and is the result of a powerful impact two years ago that initially went undetected.
The steep-sided hole — 222 metres across and up to 43 metres deep — is the solar system's biggest known impact crater carved out in recent times.
Such a large-scale event is estimated to occur only once every 132 years, researchers said, making this a treasure trove of information as NASA prepares to build a base for astronauts on the moon.
asserted
NASA → discover → moon
"This event constitutes a statistically rare, effectively once-in-a-lifetime observation," the scientists wrote in one of two studies appearing on the subject Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.
asserted
scientists → constitute → journal
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spotted the crater on the moon's near side in May 2024 soon after it was formed by an incoming fragment of an asteroid or comet.
uncertain
it → spot → asteroid
The moon strike escaped real-time detection by telescopes on Earth and in space.
asserted
strike → escape → space
LRO's wide-angle images were not identified in the crush of data until August 2025.
asserted
images → identify → August
The spacecraft gathered more detailed pictures last fall, followed by confirmation of the discovery early this year.
asserted
spacecraft → gather → discovery
The crater is named for the late Thomas McGetchin, a former director of Houston's Lunar and Planetary Institute.
asserted
crater → name → Institute
Like gardening
Pockmarked since ancient times, the moon bears some of the solar system's largest impact craters, including one that stretches more than 2,400 kilometres across.
asserted
that → bear → one
This latest impact churned the lunar surface for more than 100 kilometres.
asserted
impact → churn → kilometres
Dust and rocky soil were hurled away at a higher angle than expected, according to Mark Robinson, chief scientist for the LRO's cameras who works at Intuitive Machines.
uncertain
who → hurl → Machines
Here's the mark a SpaceX rocket crash left on the moon
Astronauts' movement increased subsurface temperatures on the moon, study finds
A separate study identified a seven-kilometre-wide cold spot around the new crater, consistent with a loosening of the moon's topsoil.
asserted
study → leave → topsoil
Co-author David Paige of the University of California, Los Angeles, likens it to gardening.
asserted
Paige → liken → gardening
"We're now thinking of impacts as a way to garden the regolith — churning the sediments and putting stuff above that's usually below the surface," Paige said in a statement.
asserted
Paige → think → statement
The LRO's numerous crater discoveries since its launch in 2009 show that the moon's top two centimetres of soil is being overturned by ejected material every 80,000 years, faster than previously thought, according to Robinson.
uncertain
centimetres → show → Robinson
Contrary to the popular belief that the Apollo moonwalkers' dusty lunar footprints will last forever, they will "definitely be long gone in that time frame," Robinson said in an email.
asserted
Robinson → last → email
The next step is to calculate the risk of ejected crater material striking NASA's planned moon base, he added.
asserted
he → calculate → base
"That information will help engineers harden structures so one won't have to worry about damage, or maybe worry less."
asserted
one → help → damage
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