Astrophotographer Caught a Meteor Striking the Moon During the Eclipse

D-brief
By Michael E. Bakich
Jan 23, 2019 6:30 PMNov 5, 2019 4:33 AM
meteor strike moon during eclipse
January's total lunar eclipse offered several treats: a blood-red Moon, and a meteorite strike on the lunar surface. (Credit:Jamie Cooper)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Sunday night’s total lunar eclipse treated Americans to a special show, as Earth’s shadow crossed the Full Moon’s face. And during the event, something unusual happened. Astroimager Jamie Cooper, from Dustin, England, caught an meteor impact on the moon. Such events were theory only two generations ago, but now are fact and somewhat commonplace to the discerning observer. Today a simple video camera can capture meteorites impacting the moon. Unlike meteorites hitting Earth, these objects are unimpeded because the moon has no atmosphere. The energy of meteor strikes produce explosions on atomic scales. And the brilliant white light flashes associated with the impacts can often be seen from Earth.

In fact, the impact that Cooper recorded could have been seen through binoculars or a telescope by an observer looking at the right moment. Because such events are fleeting, however, we often dismiss them as figments of our imaginations.

To see more impacts, go to https://imgur.com/gallery/R2voMXp or check out this YouTube clip of the impact, looped several times to highlight the event, captured during David Brewer’s lunar eclipse livestream from Colorado:

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.