Japanese astronomer Daichi Fuji was able to record a unique moment – the fall of an unknown object on the surface of the Moon.
This was reported by URA-Inform with reference to FLScienceI.
It is believed that this could be a meteor from the Geminid meteor shower, which is active every December. It is worth noting that the Geminids were first observed from Earth in the 1800s. This meteor shower is considered unusual because it is not formed by the remains of a comet, like most other showers, but by particles from the asteroid Phaethon, which has comet-like properties. Geminid activity is observed from December 4 to 20, peaking on the night of December 13-14.
It is reported that the Geminid meteors may contain large objects that can pose a danger. Although most meteors burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, some, as shown by Daichi Fuji images, can reach the surface of the Moon.
The most likely origin of the fallen object is associated with the Geminids. However, it is not yet possible to say with complete certainty. The unique images of Daichi Fuji will be valuable material for further study of meteor showers and their interaction with celestial bodies.
土星食終了後に月面衝突閃光がありました！2024年12月8日1 9時41分33秒に自宅から620fpsで撮影し、複数台の望遠鏡で捉えました(スロー再生)。月は大気がないため流星は見られずクります。まだデータ整理中ですが、6日17時26分27秒と7日18時3分6秒にも閃光を確認できています。 pic.twitter.com/QPmgJVMgQl
— 藤井大地 (@dfuji1) December 8, 2024
It will also be interesting to know that scientists lowered a camera to the bottom of the dark trench: footage of what they saw appeared (photo).
