An automated telescope monitoring the moon has captured the largest meteoroid strike since monitoring began.

The impact of the 44-pound meteor created a flash of light so bright it would have been noticeable to anyone looking at the moon at the moment of impact, even without a telescope.

The explosion, which occurred on March 17, was the biggest seen since NASA began monitoring the moon for meteoroid impacts eight years ago.

So far, more than 300 strikes have been recorded.

A NASA satellite orbiting the moon is now on a hunt for the newly formed crater, which scientists estimate could be as wide as 66 feet.