Tom McGetchin

Pioneering lunar scientist, crater named after him

Appears in 1 story

Born: July 31, 1936, La Jolla

Died: October 22, 1979

Education: Occidental College, Brown University, California Institute of Technology

Last updated Nov 2, 2026

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NASA moon orbiter finds 728-foot crater that wasn't there before

New Capabilities

As of September 2026: Deceased

A routine data-quality check turned up the largest newly formed crater ever found in the solar system. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted a 728-foot-wide crater on the Moon that wasn't in 2011 images.

Updated Sep 19