Recently, two meteors made spectacular strikes on the moon, captured by Japanese astronomer Daichi Fujii. These flashes were visible from Earth for just a brief moment. On October 30 and November 1, Fujii recorded the impacts using special cameras aimed at the moon’s nightside and shared the stunning videos online.
The first collision happened on October 30 at 8:30 p.m. Japan Standard Time. The second occurred just a couple of days later on November 1 at 8:49 p.m. Both meteors likely come from the Taurid meteor shower, which peaked around November 5. Fujii believes these meteors struck at about 27 km/s (or 60,000 mph), and he calculated that the first meteoroid weighed about 0.4 pounds (0.2 kg), creating a crater nearly 10 feet wide.
What’s fascinating is that the moon’s lack of atmosphere allows meteors to slam into its surface, creating intense bursts of light. Unlike Earth, where most meteors burn up before reaching the ground, the moon experiences these dramatic explosions. Fujii noted that the flashes were so bright that they might have been even more intense than his recordings showed.
This isn’t the first time Fujii has observed lunar impacts. Since 2011, he has been tracking these events closely, and he estimates he can spot about one impact flash every few dozen hours of observation. So far, he has documented around 60 flashes in total.
A recent report highlights that such impacts can create craters of significant size. For example, NASA states that a meteoroid weighing just 11 pounds (5 kg) can create a crater over 30 feet wide. Fujii’s ongoing research emphasizes the moon’s unique environment, making it a great place for studying meteors and their effects.
User reactions on social media to these events have been lively, with many astronomy enthusiasts expressing excitement. They celebrate these impacts as a reminder of the constant cosmic activity happening around us.
Meteor showers like the Taurids offer a fantastic opportunity for stargazers. As we approach peak viewing times, these fireballs can light up the night sky, reminding us of the wonders of our universe.
