January’s total lunar eclipse saw a rare event. A short flash was seen on the moon surface due to a meteorite, which hit it at 61,000 km/hr creating a crater 10-15 meters across.

Scientists used 8 telescopes to monitor the lunar surface during the eclipse and filmed the first ever impact flash, which lasted for 0.28 seconds.

It is estimated that the impact energy is equivalent to 1.5 tonnes of TNT and the debris ejected could have reached 5400 degree Celsius, which is roughly same as the Sun surface.

Read the full story: Royal Astronomical Society

Related Articles