[meteorite-list] Meteorite Impacts on the Moon

From: bernd.pauli_at_paulinet.de <bernd.pauli_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun Apr 24 05:57:25 2005
Message-ID: <DIIE.000000330000375B_at_paulinet.de>

Marco wrote:

> During the Leonid meteor storms of the past few years
> several impacts on the Moon have been videotaped.
> They created flashes on the dark side of the Moon ...


Ciel & Espace, No. 349 - Juin 1999, p. 17: Si, c'est possible !

Observer une chute de m?t?orites sur la Lune: une blague d'?tudiants de
premi?re ann?e? Non, d'apr?s l'?quipe espagnole de J.L. Ortiz, c'est ? la
port?e des t?lescopes d'amateurs. Sur la Lune, en l'absence d'atmosph?re,
les impacts de m?t?orites sont plus violents que sur Terre. Ils lib?rent
donc bien plus d'?nergie: 20 millions de joules pour un bloc de 1 kg. Cela
repr?sente, vu depuis la Terre, un flash de magnitude 9 ? 15. Testant actuellement
un t?lescope de 250 mm de diam?tre, l'?quipe espagnole aurait d?j? enregistr?
plusieurs impacts, mesures qui restent cependant ? confirmer. Selon J.L. Ortiz,
les L?onides offriront en novembre une belle opportunit? de recherche pour les
amateurs et professionnels. La Lune ?tant en quartier, il suffira de surveiller
les r?gions lunaires plong?es dans la nuit.

Watching meteorites fall on the Moon - just a joke to impress first graders? No,
says the study group of J.L. Ortiz - it is within reach of (modest) amateur telescopes.
Because the Moon doesn't have a substantial atmosphere, meteorite impacts there are
much more violent than here on Earth liberating much more energy: 20 million joules
for a 1-kg block. As seen from the Earth, this would produce a flash of magnitude 9 to
15 (the faintest stars visible to the unaided eye in a non-polluted environment are about
mag. 6). Tests that are being undertaken with a telescope of 250 mm aperture (a 10-inch
scope) have yielded the first results. The Spanish team says they have already observed
several impacts - this will still have to be confirmed. According to J.L. Ortiz, the Leonids
in November will offer a suitable opportunity for research for both amateurs and professionals.
As the Moon will be in its first-quarter, observing the regions that are still in the lunar dark
will do the job.

--------------------------------

Best Sunday
morning regards,

Bernd
Received on Sun 24 Apr 2005 05:57:23 AM PDT