A 222 meter crater appeared on the lunar near side between winter and spring 2024. It did not exist in archival Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images. Routine map quality control found a bright central spot ringed by a dark halo. The discovery marks the largest newly formed crater yet identified in the solar system.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Was the asteroid impact on the moon observed in real time?
- A: No. The impact was not witnessed live. It was discovered after the fact when new Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images showed a fresh crater that did not exist in winter 2024 archives.
- Q: How big is the newly formed lunar crater?
- A: The crater is about 222 meters in diameter, making it the largest newly formed crater yet identified in the solar system.
- Q: How was the new crater discovered?
- A: It was found during routine map quality control of LRO imagery, which revealed a bright central spot ringed by a dark halo on the lunar near side.
- Q: When did the asteroid impact occur?
- A: The impact occurred sometime between winter and spring 2024, based on the comparison of archival and newer LRO images.