A Rare Meteorite Impact on the Moon During a Total Lunar Eclipse
Written on
Chapter 1: The Total Lunar Eclipse Event
During a total lunar eclipse on January 21, 2019, an unexpected phenomenon occurred, delighting astronomers and skywatchers alike. As the Moon transitioned into the Earth’s shadow, a small flash appeared on its surface, marking the moment a meteorite collided with it while observers on Earth watched in amazement.
This paragraph will result in an indented block of text, typically used for quoting other text.
Section 1.1: Observations of the Impact
This flash, noted by Spanish astronomers, was linked to a meteoric strike traveling at approximately 61,000 kilometers per hour (about 38,000 miles per hour). It resulted in the formation of a crater measuring between 10 to 15 meters in diameter. Total lunar eclipses occur when the Moon is entirely enveloped by Earth's shadow, causing it to take on a reddish hue due to refracted sunlight, yet appearing significantly darker than usual.
The latest lunar eclipse was best observed from North and South America, as well as Western Europe. At 04:41 GMT, shortly after the total phase commenced, a bright flash was recorded on the lunar surface. Amateur astronomers reported that this flash, attributed to the impact of the meteorite, was visible to the naked eye.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Role of MIDAS
Professor Jose Maria Madiedo from the University of Huelva and Dr. Jose L. Ortiz from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia lead the Moon Impacts Detection and Analysis System (MIDAS). This system employs eight telescopes in southern Spain to continuously monitor the lunar surface. Remarkably, MIDAS captured video footage of the impact event, marking the first time such a flash was recorded during a lunar eclipse, despite prior unsuccessful attempts.
Madiedo expressed his excitement, stating, “Something inside of me told me that this time would be the time.” He was particularly impressed by the brightness of this event compared to typical impacts detected by the system.
Section 1.2: Understanding Lunar Impacts
Unlike Earth, the Moon's lack of a significant atmosphere allows smaller objects, which would normally disintegrate upon entering Earth's atmosphere, to collide with its surface. These impacts occur at incredible speeds, vaporizing the rocks on contact and generating a plume of debris that produces detectable flashes, observed through telescopes on Earth.
The MIDAS telescopes captured the impact flash across various wavelengths, yielding a detailed analysis. The team determined that the incoming meteorite had a mass of approximately 45 kg and measured between 30 to 60 centimeters in diameter. It struck the lunar surface at an impressive 61,000 kilometers per hour, near the crater Lagrange H, located in the western-southwestern region of the Moon's limb.
Chapter 2: The Power of Meteorite Impacts
The first video showcases the dramatic moment when a space rock hit the Moon, resulting in a stunning explosion that was observed and recorded.
The second video captures the meteorite impact on the Moon from Japan, illustrating the spectacular explosion seen from afar.
The energy released from this relatively small object was equivalent to 1.5 tons of TNT, enough to create a crater roughly 15 meters wide—comparable to the length of two double-decker buses parked side by side. The ejected debris is estimated to have reached temperatures around 5,400°C, similar to that of the Sun’s surface.
Madiedo elaborated, “It would be impossible to reproduce these high-speed collisions in a lab on Earth. Observing flashes is a great way to test our ideas on exactly what happens when a meteorite collides with the Moon.”
The findings by Madiedo and Ortiz have been documented in a paper published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The researchers intend to continue their observations of meteorite impacts on the lunar surface, particularly to assess any potential risks posed to astronauts who are expected to return to the Moon in the upcoming decade.