moon Struck: Two Meteor Impacts Recorded in Quick Succession
TOKYO – In a rare celestial event, astronomers have documented two meteoroid impacts on the moon within a two-day period, captured by the fujii telescope camera. Both flashes, lasting only a fraction of a second, were luminous enough for clear recording, offering valuable data on the lunar impact rate.
The impacts, reported by The New York Times and Space.com, were caused by small meteoroids, several centimeters in size, striking the lunar surface. Unlike Earth,the Moon lacks a protective atmosphere,meaning even small space objects can directly impact and create visible flashes due to the immense energy released.
Scientists estimate the meteoroids were traveling at speeds exceeding 27 kilometers per second – roughly 60,000 miles per hour. This velocity would generate craters measuring three to ten meters in diameter, despite the objects’ relatively small size.
The close timing of the impacts is particularly noteworthy. Experts believe the events are likely linked to the annual Taurid meteor shower, peaking in late October to early November. This shower originates from debris left behind by Comet Encke,and its particles can cause impacts on both the Moon and Earth’s atmosphere.
The recorded video was shared with and validated by the Japanese sky observing agency (JAXA), confirming the incidents as genuine collisions and ruling out light reflections or camera interference.
Observations like these are crucial for understanding the frequency of meteoroid impacts on the Moon. This data is increasingly important as NASA and other space agencies prepare for future human exploration missions, aiding in the identification of safer landing sites for probes and astronauts.
