LRO Discovers Large New Lunar Crater with Thermal Emission Phenomenon

Using the LRO probe, scientists discovered the largest known new crater in the Solar System. The McGetchin crater, 222 m wide and 43 m deep, formed on the Moon's eastern edge between April 11 and May 22, 2024, and the surrounding 6.5 km area is 16 °F colder at night.

• Crater 222 m wide and 43 m deep formed in 2024
• Impact body size of a 3–6 story house — comet or asteroid
• Surrounding 6.5 km area 16 °F colder during lunar night
• Such craters appear about once per century