Uh-Oh! The Moon Just Added Another Large Crater To Its Pockmarked Surface
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Given that the moon already has a pockmarked surface, one would think that an additional crater would not really be cause for much excitement - But as it turns out, this latest one is, because according to scientists it is the biggest explosion observed on the lunar surface since 2005 - One so large, that the bright flash of light that resulted from the impact, could have been observed from earth without a telescope, had a stargazer been looking up at that precise moment.
Though the crash occurred on March 17th, it was announced by NASA a week ago on May 17th, most likely because the scientists were trying to investigate the cause of this unprecedented explosion. After a couple of months of observation, the experts believe that the bright flash occurred when a foot-wide, 80lbs meteor came hurtling down and crashed onto the surface of the moon at 56,000 mph (90,000 k/h), creating another 65-foot hole in its already heavily cratered surface.
They also revealed that while this was the only space rock that hit the lunar surface, there were a large number of meteors that zipped through earth's orbit that fateful night. Fortunately, our planet rarely gets hit thanks to the fact that the space rocks disintegrate as they come in contact with the atmosphere.
On May 22nd, the privately funded Slooh Space Camera, whose mission is to promote scientific enlightenment, even zoomed in and broadcast live, the exact spot so that space buffs could see for themselves what the new crater looked like. NASA scientists also expect to zoom in their Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to take some close-up pictures, so stay tuned!
Resources: space.com,slooh,com,news.yahoo.com
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151 Comments
2022mrover 10 yearsthis is very cool I would want to see this happen could it end up blinding you? The crators in the moon look very cool plus this happen a year ago I would like to see it because if it wasnt for this article I would most likely think this happened ages ago
2022cbover 10 yearsrun away- 2022cbover 10 yearsWhat if a crater like that hites ether and makes a hole in the core and has lovu come up and spreds on ether we woud be died!!!
2022acover 10 yearsI think is very cool to see the moon new crater.I loved how it look liked it really tiny. A space camera cool.How many moon can fit in side earth?
2022bbover 10 yearsthe moon is very tiny
2022amsover 10 yearsI thought it was amazing that a meteor could crash on a moon.Another thing I thought was amazing was that on May 17th a meteor hit since 2005.One last thing I thought was cool was that on May 22nd the privatley funded Slooh space camera had a completly different mission happing.- 2022mrover 10 yearsI know right I think it would be scary to go to space or be fliming it!
2022ahcover 10 yearsI also think it amazing that a meteor could crash on the moon. I also think this was my faavorete book,but,i liked the speed skating.
2022hcover 10 yearsI also thought that was cool and that it hit the moon was cool. I an glade you pout that up there nice.
2022jcover 10 yearsI really liked the article. Do you think that maybe the light could blind someone? I can't belive that some of thas happed that year. OMG!
2022dkwover 10 yearsThat was the best book i ever read. 1,000 craters awesome. 56,000mph WOW.- 2022cbover 10 yearsYes it was think of the down side
- 2022hcover 10 yearsI thought its cool because the moon had a pockmarked surface. What els I thought is cool was the prelcse that hit the moon. One other thing I thoght wus cool is on May 22nd the prilvately funded Slooh space Camera who had a difrent mishon zomd in.
- 2022amsover 10 yearsI guess we share the same ideas. OMG
2022pjover 10 yearsit's so cool that the crater is the biggest crater since 2005.Also it was a meteor that made huge whole in the moon.The time the meteor hit the moon was on march 17th 2013.
2022bhover 10 yearsThe moon 1,000 moon crator hites wow. A big flash of light exploded over 5 tons of tnt. small cometes metor impacked on the moon.
