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Explosion on Moon Spreads Moondust

Posted by Zonk on from the what-did-you-do-pinky? dept.

Jotii writes "NASA scientists have observed an explosion on the moon. The blast, equal in energy to about 70 kg of TNT, occurred near the edge of Marethe Sea of Rains on Nov. 7, 2005, when a 12-centimeter-wide meteoroid slammed into the ground. The main danger of such explosions is the static and toxic moondust, which is thrown around."

2 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Danger? by Tx · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The main danger of such explosions is the static and toxic moondust, which is thrown around.

    Danger to whom exactly? Should I be hitting the bunker to dodge that toxic moondust?

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    Oh no... it's the future.
  2. How do they know the size and speed of the object? by MichaelSmith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Obviously they can calculate the objects kinetic energy from the intensity of the flash. This will give them mass or speed, but not both. Perhaps the speed came from their assumption about the origin of the meteoroid, but that could still be wrong, of course.

    BTW if anybody is interested in exactly what it was like to be walking on the moon in the 60's and 70's I recommend they have a look at the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal

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    http://michaelsmith.id.au