Key Takeaways
1. The Moon is covered in craters and acts as a protective shield for Earth.
2. A new flash on the Moon was observed on December 12 by Andrew Marshall-Lee at the Armagh Observatory.
3. The flash may be linked to the Geminids meteor shower, which peaked on December 13.
4. The impact is believed to have been caused by a small object traveling at around 35 km/s.
5. Further research is needed to confirm the origin of the object that caused the flash.
The Moon is covered in craters and serves as a vital shield for our planet. It’s quite uncommon to witness an impact on our natural satellite in real time. Nevertheless, after two impacts spotted by an amateur astronomer in November, a new flash was reported on December 12 at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) in Ireland.
Recent Observations
This information was shared through a video on the observatory’s official website. The flash was captured by Andrew Marshall-Lee using the Armagh Robotic Telescope (ART). The bright flash appears on the Moon’s night side, but it lasts only a brief moment and doesn’t give much additional information.
Ongoing Investigations
Astronomers are actively working to identify the source of the object that caused this flash, although several theories have already surfaced. Notably, the Geminids meteor shower peaked on December 13. These meteors originate from an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, and they are relatively large. This suggests that the impact might have been caused by one of these meteors, which struck the Moon at an estimated speed of 35 km/s.
Impact Details
Despite the brightness of the collision, don’t expect a large celestial object to be involved. In the vastness of space, everything moves at high speeds, and even a small rock of just a few centimeters can unleash a tremendous amount of energy upon impact. In this instance, astronomers believe the object was no bigger than a golf ball. However, more research is needed to confirm its origin, and new findings may be unveiled soon.
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