Moon Reveals New Impact Scar

A space rock hit the Moon and created a new crater. This event happened in late spring 2024. The crater is 225 metres wide, about the size of two football pitches. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera took pictures before and after the impact.

The Moon always gets hit by space rocks. They create new craters every day. However, seeing a new crater form is rare. Before this, the largest crater from this mission was 70 metres wide. This new one is much bigger. It should happen only once every 139 years in one place on the Moon.

The new crater is funnel-shaped and 43 metres deep. The walls are steep and hard to stand on. Large blocks of rock are scattered around its edge. The impact came from the south-southwest, showing how the debris moved.

Inside the crater, scientists found dark, glassy rock. This formed from the heat of the impact. The images taken before and after allow researchers to study how craters form in the Solar System.

How much do you know?

When did the space rock hit the Moon and create a new crater?

Spring 2023

Late Spring 2024

Summer 2024

Fall 2025

How wide is the new crater?

70 metres

100 metres

225 metres

300 metres

How deep is the new crater?

30 metres

40 metres

43 metres

50 metres

What was the size of the largest crater from this mission before the new one was formed?

50 metres

60 metres

70 metres

80 metres

How often should a similar impact event happen in one place on the Moon?

Once every 50 years

Once every 100 years

Once every 139 years

Once every 200 years

What type of rock was found inside the new crater?

Sandstone

Glassy rock

Granite

Basalt

The new crater on the Moon is 150 metres wide.

True False

Seeing a new crater form on the Moon is a common event.

True False

Large blocks of rock are scattered around the edge of the new crater.

True False

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera took pictures of the impact.

True False

The impact came from the east-northeast.

True False

Scientists can use the images to study how craters form in the Solar System.

True False

The new crater on the Moon is wide, about the size of two football pitches.

This new crater is funnel-shaped and metres deep.

The largest crater from this mission before the new one was metres wide.

The impact occurred in late spring .

Seeing a new crater form is .

Inside the crater, scientists found dark, rock formed from the heat of the impact.

This question is required