Large, Hidden Crater Spotted on Moon’s Nearside
We may think we know the face of the moon, but its mottled complexion still holds a few surprises.
Recently, a team of scientists found a new, 200-kilometer wide crater on the lunar nearside – a large pockmark that remained anonymous for billions of years.
To be fair, it’s mostly buried beneath material kicked out by an even bigger impact, said Rohan Sood, a graduate student at Purdue University who presented the observations March 16 at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
“You’re probably the first person to discover a new, nearside crater in the last century or two,” Purdue’s Jay Melosh told Sood afterward.
twin GRAIL spacecraft
“Gravity is just more truthful, in a way,” says Loic Chappaz, another Purdue graduate student on the team.
When the team took a close look at the GRAIL gravity data, it spotted the signature of a large, buried crater. It wasn’t what they were expecting to find — “we were looking for buried, empty lava tubes,” Sood says – and the team realized they could use GRAIL data to search for hidden structures.
After verifying the crater’s presence, the team named it after Amelia Earhart, who was on faculty at Purdue before piloting a Purdue airplane on her last, fateful journey.
Earhart crater is located just north of Mare Serenitatis, a dark lunar basin that’s easily visible with the unaided eye. The crater, however, is not. When a massive impact formed the Serenitatis basin roughly 3.9 billion years ago, it kicked up enough material to mostly erase the slightly older Earhart crater.
“It threw out broken, melted rock and flooded the surface, several kilometers deep, and in the process removed the direct evidence of this older crater,” Melosh says.
Earhart crater is not alone in its clandestine existence. There are other similar craters, but many of them are truly buried. “There are maybe a dozen of those, something like that, that are clearly craters and we don’t see them on the surface,” Melosh says.
Related Topics
Go Further
Animals
- These 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animalsThese 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animals
- These photos are works of art—and the artists are bugsThese photos are works of art—and the artists are bugs
- The epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfishThe epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfish
- Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75
Environment
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
- The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?
- The most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater weldersThe most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater welders
- The harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to surviveThe harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to survive
History & Culture
- Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’
- A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.
- Meet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural iconMeet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural icon
- Inside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysicsInside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysics
Science
- LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?
- NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.
- Humans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying themHumans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying them
- Why engineers are concerned about aging infrastructureWhy engineers are concerned about aging infrastructure
Travel
- Mansion museums show visitors the gritty side of the Gilded AgeMansion museums show visitors the gritty side of the Gilded Age
- 2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip