Massive Modern Crater Discovered on the Moon
A fresh crater, spanning 225 meters in diameter, has recently been discovered on the Moon’s surface by scientists from NASA. The crater, roughly a third of the width of Wenceslas Square, formed between April and May 2024, marking the largest new crater observed during the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s (LRO) mission, which began in 2009.
The discovery was presented on March 17, 2026, at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas, by planetary scientist Mark Robinson, principal investigator for the LRO Camera at Arizona State University.
Rare Impact Event
Craters of this size are rare, forming on the Moon approximately once every 139 years, according to the Neukum production function as reported by MSN. The crater was created by a collision with another space body.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Role
The LRO has been continuously mapping the lunar surface since 2009, making it the longest continuous mission in lunar orbit according to NASA. The probe’s images allowed scientists to pinpoint the impact and study the resulting crater.
Robinson noted that previous crater discoveries topped out at 70 meters wide, making this new crater a significant find. “I used to joke that now that the bar is set, you have to find a crater that’s 100 meters in diameter. And lo and behold, we’ve got 225 meters,” he said as reported by NewsBreak.
Understanding Lunar Craters
Lunar craters are depressions formed on the Moon’s surface due to impacts from asteroids, meteoroids, or comets according to NASA. These impacts eject rock and debris, sometimes creating secondary craters.
The newly discovered crater is approximately 43 meters deep, with a depth-to-diameter ratio of 0.19, which is standard for craters of this size as reported by NewsBreak. It is slightly elongated, suggesting variations in the underlying terrain.
Implications for Future Lunar Missions
The discovery highlights the risks posed by impacts to future astronauts and lunar infrastructure. The crater is surrounded by a bright layer of ejected rock and dust, which could pose a threat to lunar habitats. Future lunar buildings will need to be designed to withstand impacts from high-speed debris.
This discovery comes as NASA prepares for the Artemis II mission, scheduled to orbit the Moon in spring 2026, and anticipates the Artemis III mission, aiming to land astronauts on the lunar surface in 2027 or 2028.
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