A search for meteoritic flashes on the Moon

DOI: 
Publication date: 
01/01/1999
Main author: 
Ortiz J.L.
IAA authors: 
Ortiz J.L.
Authors: 
Ortiz J.L., Aceituno F.J., Aceituno J.
Journal: 
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
343
Pages: 
L57-L60
Number: 
Abstract: 
We present the first results of a search for bright flashes associated to impacts of meteoroids on the surface of the night side of the Moon. We have analysed 13 sets of images of a (2.9±0.3) 106-km2-wide area on the Moon's night side, totaling 4.3 h of observations. No impact events radiating an amount of energy higher than 5 × 106 J have been detected. Five fainter events (E < 2.5 × 106 J) have been detected, but they are not confidently identified as impact-related, and might be due to experimental problems. This rate of events would imply an influx of 4800 ± 500 meteoroids per day onto the Earth, with meteoroid masses of uncertain value, but larger than 0.01 kg. The direct CCD imaging technique that we have used is a potential new tool to asses the population of those meteoroids in the vicinity of the Earth whose masses and velocities are such that the radiated energy upon impact is higher than 5 × 106 J, our threshold for 100% confident detection. The technique can be improved substantially to detect fainter impacts and might provide unique data for the 1999 Leonid meteor shower.
Database: 
SCOPUS
Keywords: 
Meteors, meteoroids; Moon; Solar system: general