Space

Two Strange Flashes Lit Up The Moon. Here’s Why That’s Not So Unusual

What were those strange flashes on the moon? Find out.

If you’re a space enthusiast, you may have seen headlines about “spooky flashes” hitting the moon at the end of October. And the remarkable footage is a reminder that, even though the moon may appear as a peaceful orb in our night sky, it’s actually constantly being hit by space rocks traveling at incredible speeds.

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Unlike Earth, which has a protective atmosphere that burns up most incoming meteors, the moon takes a direct hit from asteroids and meteoroids that can create explosive impacts visible from hundreds of thousands of miles away. These collisions occur when space rocks slam into the lunar surface at speeds of up to 60,000 miles per hour, or about 30 times faster than a fighter jet. The impacts create brief, bright flashes that astronomers can capture using specialized telescopes trained on the lunar surface.

Japanese astronomer Daichi Fujii, who operates multiple telescopes specifically to monitor lunar impacts, has documented about 60 such strikes since 2011. Fujii uses automated software that detects motion and explosions. These observations aren't just spectacular to witness: they also serve an important scientific purpose. By tracking how often smaller asteroids pummel the moon, researchers can better estimate how many larger asteroids that could potentially pose a threat to Earth.

So, you might be wondering, where do these asteroids come from? Many of them likely originate from meteor showers like the Taurids, which are known for producing larger-than-average meteors traveling at particularly high speeds. Each collision provides astronomers like Fujii with more data that may just have long-term implications for our own planetary safety.

Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s newsletter.