In-Depth Analysis: Two Bright Celestial Events on the Moon and Earth — A New Perspective on Cosmic Phenomena
On October 30 and November 1 of this year, extraordinary cosmic events were recorded — the impact of two meteorites on the Moon’s surface, causing brief, bright flashes visible from Earth.
These phenomena were documented by Japanese astronomer Daichi Fuji, head of the Hiratsuka City Museum, using specialized cameras directed toward the Moon’s night side.
His videos captured moments when these impacts created craters and emitted flashes of light — events happening directly on the lunar surface without an atmosphere to burn up meteors, lasting less than a hundredth of a second.
These circumstances make the celestial phenomena incredibly spectacular, emphasizing the precision and speed of cosmic processes.
According to Fuji, the first flash occurred near the Hassen De crater during the peak activity of the Taurid meteor stream, traveling at a speed of 27 km/s at a 35-degree angle.
The likely meteorite weighed about 0.2 kg and formed a crater over three meters wide, with the flash lasting only 0.1 seconds.
Similar events were recorded on November 1 over the Ocean of Storms, one of the largest lunar seas, where another impact flash was observed, probably caused by debris from the same meteor stream, possibly the North or South Taurids.
It is noteworthy that these events coincide with the peak activity of meteor showers such as Perseids or Taurids, though a direct link remains uncertain.
Since the Moon lacks a dense atmosphere, it does not shield itself from direct impacts, and meteors can strike its surface at speeds ranging from 20 to 72 km/s, producing bright flashes of light and heat visible even from Earth.
Such phenomena not only expand our understanding of space but also remind us of the universe’s dynamism and unpredictability.
Just before these observations, on November 2, a spectacular explosion of a comet fragment in Earth’s atmosphere over the Iberian Peninsula and Portugal was recorded, highlighting how dramatic and unpredictable cosmic events can be on our planet and beyond.