NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter discovers 728‑foot crater on Moon

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has identified a fresh impact crater on the Moon measuring approximately 728 feet (222 meters) in diameter, the largest newly formed crater ever recorded anywhere in the solar system. The crater, which appeared in 2024, was detected through high‑resolution imaging and thermal mapping that revealed a distinct, freshly exposed rim and a surrounding area of altered surface material.

Analysis of the impact zone shows that the collision disturbed the lunar regolith for several miles, generating an extensive cold spot where surface temperatures remain markedly lower than surrounding terrain. Scientists say the event provides a clear example of how a single meteoroid strike can rapidly modify the Moon’s landscape, offering new data on impact processes and the evolution of planetary surfaces.