The Observation and Characterization of Lunar Meteoroid Impact Phenomena

Abstract

Abstract. Confirmed observations of meteoroids from the Leonid stream impacting the Moon in 1999 and 2001 have opened up new opportunities in observational and theoretical astronomy. These opportunities could help bridge the gap between the ground-based (atmospheric) sampling of the smallest meteoroids and the larger objects observable with ground-based telescopes. The Moon provides a laboratory for the study of hypervelocity impacts, with collision velocities not yet possible in ground-based laboratories. Development of automatic detection software removes the time-intensive activity of laboriously reviewing data for impact event signatures, freeing the observer to engage in other activities. The dynamics of professional-amateur astronomer collaboration have the promise of advancing the study of lunar meteoritic phenomenon considerably. These three factors will assist greatly in the development of a systematic, comprehensive program for monitoring the Moon for meteoroid impacts and determining the physical nature of these impacts.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Instrument Overview

“…These targets include, but are not limited to, spectral anomalies (Wood and Head 1975), Copernican craters (Wilhelms et al 1987), Apollo Panoramic photo areas (Masursky et al 1978;Lawrence et al 2008b), crater central peaks and peak rings, sites of lunar pyroclastic volcanism (Gaddis et al 1985(Gaddis et al , 1995(Gaddis et al , 2000(Gaddis et al , 2003, lava flow margins (Gifford and El-Baz 1981), possible lava tubes (Coombs and Hawke 1992), mare surfaces for crater counting (Hiesinger et al 2003), volcanic domes (Head and McCord 1978), geologic units in the Apennine Mountains and Imbrium backslope (Wilhelms 1980;Wilhelms et al 1987), tectonic structures, dark haloed impact craters and cryptomaria (Blewett et al 1995;Giguere et al 2003Hawke et al 2004Hawke et al , 2005Hawke et al , 2008Lawrence et al 2008b), concentric craters (Wood 1978), sites of observed impact flashes (Ortiz et al 2000(Ortiz et al , 2002(Ortiz et al , 2006Yanagisawa and Kisaichi 2002;Cudnik et al 2003), and highland scarps.…”

Analysis of the First Optical Detection of a Meteoroidal Impact on the Lunar Surface Recorded from Brazil

“…Lunar impacts also provide novel insights into high-velocity impact phenomena, since lunar impact velocities by far exceed those achievable by laboratory experiments [13]. In contrast to the relatively "slow" man-made collisions, meteoroid collisions with the Moon are capable of generating far greater energy release than spacecraft impacts; therefore, meteoroid impacts can serve as a probe for lunar water or other constituents just beneath the lunar surface [21].…”

“…The amateur contribution has been regarded as desirable for a long time, as highlighted in a relatively early work [21], in which the authors assert that collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers had already proven quite useful and mutually beneficial, especially with an increasing number of amateurs outfitted with equipment traditionally reserved for professional use, such as CCD cameras, low-resolution spectrographs, photoelectric photometers, and filters. Besides, various astronomical organizations have stepped up to encourage such collaboration, making data collected by the amateur easily accessible to the professional to assist the latter in his or her research.…”

“…Organizations such as the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA), the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), the International Meteor Organization (IMO), and the American Astronomical Society (AAS) have been actively promoting such collaborations. The authors of [21] conclude that observations of lunar impacts provide an excellent avenue for professional-amateur collaborations, as smaller observatories and amateurs can make a serious contribution in this area by determining not only the frequency of occurrence but also the luminous energy output and spectra of these events.…”

“…The affirmation of the lunar impact nature regarding Flash 1 stands on a solid foundation, especially because there is a second simultaneous and independent observation of the flash at the same selenographic coordinates. The two independent observations discard false detections produced by other phenomena, such as satellite glint, cosmic rays, and electric noise (e.g., [21]). To eliminate the possibility of satellite glints, the two observations must be made from locations far from each other.…”