In a breathtaking celestial event, two meteors recently collided with the moon, leaving scientists in awe. But here's the twist: these impacts were captured on video by a skilled astronomer, offering a rare glimpse into the violent beauty of our universe.
Japanese astronomer Daichi Fujii, a curator at the Hiratsuka City Museum, witnessed this extraordinary occurrence on two separate occasions. On October 30 and November 1, Fujii's cameras, pointed at the moon's nightside, recorded bright meteors slamming into the lunar surface. These fleeting flashes, lasting mere fractions of a second, were the result of high-speed space rocks colliding with the moon, creating intense explosions of light.
The timing of these events is intriguing, coinciding with the peak of the Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers. The first impact, on October 30, occurred at 8:30 p.m. Japan Standard Time, with the second following on November 1 at 8:49 p.m. Fujii's calculations suggest that the October 30 meteor was part of the Taurid meteor stream, hitting the moon at an astonishing 60,000 mph (27 km/s) and an angle of 35 degrees. This impact created a crater approximately 10 feet wide and a flash that, according to Fujii, may have been even brighter than the recorded data indicates.
And this is where it gets fascinating: the second flash, on November 1, appeared west of Oceanus Procellarum, one of the moon's largest lunar maria. While the origin of these meteors is still under investigation, Fujii believes they could be linked to the Taurid showers. This observation adds to Fujii's impressive record of lunar impact events, making him a leading figure in this field.
The moon's lack of atmosphere, unlike Earth's protective shield, allows meteors to retain their speed, resulting in dramatic collisions. These impacts can create craters tens of feet wide, even from small meteoroids, as NASA has demonstrated. For instance, a 11-pound rock can produce a crater over 30 feet wide and eject an incredible amount of lunar material.
Fujii's dedication to observing lunar impacts is remarkable. Since 2011, he has been consistently monitoring these events, detecting approximately one impact flash every few dozen hours of observation. His work has documented 60 flashes so far, providing invaluable insights into the moon's dynamic relationship with meteors.
This story raises an intriguing question: what other celestial wonders are waiting to be discovered and captured on camera? Share your thoughts and join the conversation about the mysteries of the universe!
