NASA's Artemis II Astronauts and Volunteers Observe Meteoroid Impacts on the Moon
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During the Artemis II mission in early April, astronauts observed flashes of light on the lunar surface caused by meteoroid impacts. A NASA-funded citizen science project, Impact Flash, is now seeking more volunteers with telescopes to contribute observations, which scientists plan to use to study moonquakes. The astronauts have since returned to Earth, concluding their direct observations from space.
Facts First
- Artemis II astronauts observed lunar meteoroid impacts from space in early April before returning to Earth.
- A NASA-funded citizen science project seeks more volunteers with telescopes to record impact flashes on the Moon.
- Scientists plan to use the data to study moonquakes, tremors on the Moon similar to earthquakes.
- The project collaborates with several international teams, including Italy's Lunar Impact Flashes project and other NASA-funded networks.
What Happened
In early April, astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II mission observed flashes of light on the lunar surface caused by meteoroids hitting the Moon. Simultaneously, volunteers for the NASA-funded Impact Flash project were scanning the Moon with telescopes from Earth and sending videos to scientists. The Artemis II astronauts have since splashed back down to Earth, ending their direct observations from space.
Why this Matters to You
This project opens a direct path for you to contribute to NASA science. If you own a telescope with a lens four inches in diameter or greater and video capabilities, you can submit observations through the Impact Flash website. Your data could help scientists better understand the frequency of meteoroid strikes and the internal structure of the Moon through the study of moonquakes.
What's Next
The Impact Flash project team is actively seeking more observations from volunteers. The instructions for making and uploading observations are available on the project website. The data collected may be used to advance the study of lunar geology and could inform future missions, including those related to the European Space Agency's (ESA) Lunar Meteoroid Impacts Observer mission.