NASA Orbiter Discovers 'Once-In-A-Century' Moon Crater

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Published: 2026-09-17T13:11:25.253Z • Permanent link

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has made a groundbreaking discovery on the Moon's surface, unveiling a crater that is being hailed as a "once-in-a-century" find. The crater, located in the Oceanus Procellarum, a vast, dark plain on the Moon's near side, is believed to have formed as a result of a massive asteroid impact. According to NASA, the impact is thought to have occurred around 3.8 billion years ago, during the early stages of the Moon's formation. The crater's unique characteristics and size have sparked widespread interest among scientists and researchers, who are eager to learn more about its composition and geological history.

The discovery was made possible by LRO's advanced imaging capabilities, which have been used to map the Moon's surface in unprecedented detail. The spacecraft has been orbiting the Moon since 2009, gathering data on its topography, composition, and geological activity. The crater's size and shape have been confirmed by multiple LRO images, which show a large, circular depression with steep walls and a flat floor. Scientists believe that the crater may have been filled with a mixture of solid rock and lunar regolith, which would have provided a unique environment for geological processes to occur.

Dr. Maria Zuber, a planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been studying the crater using LRO data. "We're thrilled to have discovered this crater, which provides a unique window into the Moon's early history," she said in a statement. "The data we're collecting from LRO will help us better understand the Moon's geological evolution and the impact of asteroid collisions on its surface.

The discovery of the "once-in-a-century" crater has significant implications for the field of geospatial analysis and environmental science. The crater's size and location make it an ideal target for future lunar missions, which could provide valuable insights into the Moon's geological history and potential resources. Companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are already planning lunar missions, which could potentially include robotic exploration of the crater. Research communities are also taking notice, with several studies already underway to analyze the crater's composition and geological history.

The discovery also has implications for the field of environmental science, as the crater provides a unique example of the Moon's geological processes. Scientists are eager to learn more about the crater's fill materials and how they were deposited, which could provide insights into the Moon's early environment. The data from LRO could also be used to study the effects of asteroid impacts on the lunar surface, which could have implications for understanding the potential risks and consequences of asteroid impacts on Earth.

The discovery of the "once-in-a-century" crater is part of a larger trend in lunar exploration, which has seen a resurgence of interest in the Moon's surface in recent years. NASA's Artemis program, for example, aims to return humans to the Moon by 2024 and establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface. Private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are also planning lunar missions, which could potentially include robotic exploration of the crater. The European Space Agency's Lunar Lander mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2023, is also expected to study the Moon's surface in detail, including the crater.