Before and after pictures show moon crater after SpaceX crash

A NASA spacecraft has captured images of a new crater on the moon after a SpaceX rocket crashed into the surface.

The abandoned Falcon made contact with the equivalent power of three tonnes of dynamite earlier this month, having been drifting thorugh space for more than a year.

SpaceX moon crash as it happened

NASA released before and after pictures on Tuesday showing its impact in the greatest detail yet. Scientists said the crater appears to be around 60ft across and 10ft deep.

Dark and bright streaks can be seen emanating from the crater.

The former are from excavated material close to the surface, shaped by solar wind and cosmic rays; the latter are fresh rocks and dirt that were hurled up from further down.

NASA said its spacecraft, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), captured the images one week after the collision from 60 miles above. Remote flight controllers worked to position the onboard cameras towards the crater.

South Korea's Danuri spacecraft was first on the scene to beam back photos.

LRO has been orbiting the moon since 2009 and is helping NASA prepare to eventually return astronauts to the surface via its Artemis programme.

Artemis II earlier this year saw a crew journey around the moon and back.

Artemis III, due in 2027, will see a crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth.

It won't be until Artemis IV that humans are set to return to the lunar surface.

(c) Sky News 2026: Before and after pictures show moon crater after SpaceX crash