NASA spots new Moon crater, likely caused by crashed Russian probe / Photo: - - NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University/AFP
-
Trade ships hit as Iran threatens Gulf oil chokepoint
-
Airlines grapple with impact of Mideast war
-
Iran's new supreme leader injured but 'safe', says president's son
-
Thai navy says cargo ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz
-
Poland starts human trafficking probe into Epstein ring
-
Airlines in Asia hike fares as Mideast war raises fuel costs
-
UK govt to release first batch of Mandelson files
-
European football clubs score with stadium rebuilds
-
Trump said Iran 'welcome to compete' in World Cup, says Infantino
-
'No good choice': the Afghans forced to return from Iran
-
Asia stocks rise but oil resumes gains amid IEA supply report
-
Cathay says surcharge to rise as fuel prices jump during Mideast war
-
Cargo vessels hit as Iran threatens to close Gulf oil chokepoint
-
G7 energy ministers 'ready' to take 'necessary measures' on oil reserves
-
Punch the baby monkey isn't being bullied: Japan zoo
-
German defence giant Rheinmetall sees faster growth as Europe rearms
-
Fears of fuel shortage in Pakistan as tankers wait to fill up
-
Cathay Pacific expects to carry more passengers in 2026
-
Yak hack: Kyrgyz want the world to love their blonde bovine beauties
-
Iran women footballers evacuate from safe house in Australia
-
Shabby beauty: Inside Japan's oldest, defiant student dorm
-
Seoul says can deter threats from North if US weapons shifted to Mideast
-
Italy stun United States 8-6 in World Baseball Classic
-
New wave of Iran attacks as oil reserve release weighed
-
Politics meets football as China, Taiwan face off at Asian Cup
-
History offers Scots hope of ending losing run to Irish
-
Trump-Infantino 'bromance' tested by Middle East war
-
Ruthless Sinner subdues Fonseca to reach Indian Wells quarter-finals
-
Kharg Island: Iran's vital oil hub in the crosshairs?
-
Wembanyama stars as red-hot Spurs sink Celtics
-
New generation of Irish actors harness talent for global stardom
-
Brilliant Adebayo scores 83 points, second highest in NBA history
-
Asian stocks extend gains, oil stabilises after crude release report
-
New wave of Iran attacks as IEA weighs oil reserve release
-
'Stealth hit' Pokemon game sends Nintendo shares soaring
-
Brilliant Adebayo scores 83 pts, 2nd highest in NBA history as Heat rout Wizards
-
Australian Katie Perry wins trademark spat against singer Katy Perry
-
CEO of Brazil's Nubank on pending US market entry, Trump, AI: interview
-
Bolsonaro brand fuels Flavio's rise in Brazil election polls
-
Kast: Who is Chile's new hard-right president?
-
Chile's Kast, most right-wing president since Pinochet, takes office
-
China sprint race presents 'huge challenge' in F1's new era
-
Bangladesh sari weaving tradition hangs by a thread
-
Alleged Rihanna mansion shooter charged with attempted murder
-
Microsoft urges Pentagon pause blacklisting Anthropic
-
Harvey Weinstein says prison is 'hell'
-
'Put our faith in God': Tehran residents adapt to wartime
-
Caviar, truffle and chicken pot pies: what Hollywood will eat at the Oscars
-
US says wouldn't be 'happy' if Russia giving Iran intel
-
US targets Iran mine-laying as war causes oil market havoc
NASA spots new Moon crater, likely caused by crashed Russian probe
NASA has spotted a small new crater on the Moon that was likely caused by a Russian probe crash landing on the surface around two weeks ago.
The finding was made by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) by comparing before and after images of the estimated impact point, provided by Russian space agency Roscosmos.
The Luna-25 probe crashed on August 19, scuppering Russia's hopes of reviving its long dormant Moon program with the first ever soft landing on the lunar south pole.
That accolade went instead to India, which successfully landed its Chandrayaan-3 mission on August 23 and is currently exploring the polar region with its Pragyan rover.
LRO, which has been in orbit over the Moon since 2009, took its most recent "before" image in June 2022. This was compared to an image taken on August 24, 2023.
"Since this new crater is close to the Luna 25 estimated impact point, the LRO team concludes it is likely to be from that mission, rather than a natural impactor," a NASA statement said.
The new crater is about 10 meters (32 feet) in diameter, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) short of Luna-25's intended landing point.
NASA also plans to return to the Moon under its Artemis program, with the goal of building a sustained presence. Ice deposits could be exploited to support human habitats, or broken down into hydrogen and oxygen for use as rocket fuel.
S.F.Warren--AMWN
