TechnologyNatural disaster

Asteroid the size of six-storey building crashed into moon in 'once-in-a-lifetime' moment

Published 2026-08-18 · Updated 1w ago

Covered in 2 countries

AI summary37s readNeutral

Fresh imagery reveals the dramatic impact scars left by high-speed space debris colliding with the moon.

NASA has captured photographic evidence of a fresh crater on the lunar surface following an uncontrolled rocket impact earlier. Initially linked to a defunct SpaceX Falcon 9 booster traveling at thousands of miles per hour, subsequent cosmic observations highlight a separate rare lunar collision involving a massive asteroid. These celestial impacts provide scientists with valuable data regarding hyper-velocity kinetic energy transfers on planetary bodies.

The initial rocket debris struck the lunar surface at an estimated velocity of 5,400 mph.
A separate asteroid comparable in scale to a six-storey building also recently collided with the moon in a rare astronomical event.

By the numbers

5,400mph rocket impact speed

Timeline

Aug 18NASA released photos of a new lunar crater created by a crashing Falcon 9 rocket part.
Sep 17Reports emerged of a building-sized asteroid striking the moon in a rare cosmic event.

Why it matters

Studying lunar impacts allows astronomers to better understand crater formation mechanics and the frequency of high-speed debris strikes in the inner solar system.

What outlets agree on

Outlets report on significant lunar impact events documented by space agencies and astronomical observations.

Where coverage differs

The initial report focused on a human-made rocket booster impact, while subsequent coverage emphasized a massive natural asteroid collision.

Tune your feed

Reactions

In this story

NASASpace explorationSpaceXFalcon 9

Covered by 2 outlets

50% of the sources are Left

50%50%

Lean ratings via Media Bias/Fact Check, Ad Fontes Media

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