A major cosmic event, involving an impact that created a crater on the Moon, went undetected by science for over 17 months before being identified in October 2025. The McGetchin crater, formed between April and May 2024, was discovered by a researcher at Intuitive Machines analyzing images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) probe. With a diameter of 222 meters and a depth of 43 meters, this impact is considered the largest newly formed crater ever identified in the solar system. According to crater production models, such an event occurs approximately every 132 years. The crater was named in honor of Tom McGetchin, a field geologist for the Apollo missions. The impact, likely caused by a wandering rock or a frozen comet, struck the Moon's eastern edge without atmospheric interference, creating a chasm that would be impossible to replicate on Earth. Despite the LRO's extensive monitoring of the Moon for over 17 years, the impact went unnoticed for more than a year. The discovery revealed a thermal anomaly: a cold zone extending over approximately 7 kilometers around the crater, where nighttime temperatures are 8 to 9 degrees lower than the surrounding lunar landscape. This anomaly is not explained by ice or shadow, as the Moon lacks cloud cover or humidity. Researchers suggest that the displaced regolith, which is less dense and less able to retain heat than compact rock, is responsible for the temperature drop. This hypothesis was confirmed by comparing the cooling effect observed at McGetchin with other newly identified craters larger than 20 meters in diameter. The discovery highlights the Moon's continued ability to surprise scientists, even after decades of observation. Researchers estimate that about 140 new impacts of about 10 meters in diameter form each year on the Moon, many of which may remain undetected for long periods.