Lunar Impacts

    Mission statement: Use Earth-based observations of the dark portion of the moon to establish the rates and sizes of large meteoroids (greater than 500 grams or 1 pound in mass) striking the lunar surface.

    Why it is important: U.S. Space Exploration Policy eventually calls for extended astronaut stays on the lunar surface. Spacecraft, vehicles, habitats, and EVA suits must all be designed to withstand the stresses posed by the harsh lunar environment over this period of time. Meteoroids, and the ejecta produced when they create impact craters, are part of this environment.
    > Read more

    2011-2012 Impact Candidates (last updated 01/11/2013)

    ID
    #

    UT Date

    UT Time

    Video Frames
    (1/30 s)

    Probable
    Type

    Tele-
    scopes

    233

    08 Jan 11

    23:42:09

    1

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    234

    09 Jan 11

    01:17:55

    1

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    235

    11 Feb 11

    04:14:26

    2

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    236

    26 Feb 11

    09:39:29

    2

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    237

    26 Feb 11

    10:38:26

    2

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    238

    12 Mar 11

    00:37:43

    1

    Sporadic?

    two 14"

    239

    12 Mar 11

    01:11:19

    1

    Sporadic?

    three 14"

    240

    12 Mar 11

    02:57:33

    1

    Sporadic?

    two 14"

    241

    12 Mar 11

    04:03:54

    2

    Sporadic?

    two 14"

    242

    08 Apr 11

    01:32:18

    2

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    243

    08 Apr 11

    02:42:25

    1

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    244

    09 May 11

    04:08:54

    5

    Eta Lyrid

    three 14"

    245

    10 May 11

    03:40:20

    4

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    246

    11 May 11

    02:22:52

    10

    Eta Lyrid

    two 14"

    247

    27 May 11

    10:03:01

    3

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    248

    22 Aug 11

    09:37:53

    2

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    249

    22 Aug 11

    10:32:01

    1

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    250

    23 Aug 11

    07:39:07

    2

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    251

    23 Aug 11

    09:58:32

    1

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    252

    25 Aug 11

    10:30:48

    1

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    253

    22 Oct 11

    08:32:36

    2

    Orionid

    two 14"

    254

    22 Oct 11

    10:09:12

    1

    Orionid

    three 14"

    255

    22 Oct 11

    10:46:15

    2

    Orionid

    three 14"

    256

    22 Oct 11

    11:17:16

    2

    Orionid

    three 14"

    257

    23 Oct 11

    09:33:37

    2

    Orionid

    one 14"

    258

    30 Oct 11

    00:36:20

    2

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    259

    31 Oct 11

    23:57:44

    1

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    260

    29 Dec 11

    01:06:27

    1

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    261

    29 Dec 11

    02:21:59

    1

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    262

    30 Dec 11

    01:47:38

    3

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    263

    30 Dec 11

    02:08:50

    1

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    264

    28 Feb 12

    03:27:08

    4

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    265

    29 Mar 12

    02:08:49

    2

    Sporadic

    one 14"

    266

    28 Apr 12

    04:00:22

    4

    Sporadic

    three 14"

    267

    26 May 12

    02:02:13

    1

    Shower

    two 14"

    268

    27 May 12

    01:55:33

    4

    Shower

    two 14"

    269

    27 May 12

    02:33:01

    1

    Shower

    three 14"

    270

    27 May 12

    03:17:19

    1

    Shower

    two 14"

    271

    26 Jun 12

    02:54:41

    1

    Shower

    two 14"

    272

    26 Jun 12

    03:00:07

    1

    Shower

    two 14"

    273

    12 Aug 12

    10:00:33

    2

    Perseid

    three 14"

    274

    12 Aug 12

    10:06:52

    1

    Perseid

    three 14"

    275

    24 Aug 12

    02:36:08

    1

    Sporadic

    two 14"

    276

    09 Oct 12

    06:46:17

    2

    Taurid

    two 14"

    277

    09 Oct 12

    10:57:15

    2

    Taurid

    one 14"

    278

    11 Oct 12

    08:40:47

    1

    Shower

    two 14"

    279

    19 Oct 12

    00:22:51

    2

    Shower

    two 14"

    280

    21 Oct 12

    00:29:02

    2

    Orionid

    two 14"

    281

    21 Oct 12

    02:55:28

    1

    Orionid

    two 14"

    282

    08 Nov 12

    07:53:58

    1

    Taurid

    two 14"

    283

    08 Nov 12

    08:21:57

    1

    Taurid

    two 14"

    284

    08 Nov 12

    09:18:42

    3

    Taurid

    two 14"

    285

    10 Nov 12

    09:07:44

    3

    Taurid

    one 14"

    286

    10 Nov 12

    09:55:10

    2

    Taurid

    two 14"

    287

    10 Nov 12

    10:39:17

    1

    Taurid

    two 14"

    288

    10 Nov 12

    11:16:10

    3

    Taurid

    two 14"

    289

    10 Nov 12

    11:17:15

    2

    Taurid

    two 14"

    290

    16 Nov 12

    23:36:05

    8

    Shower

    two 14"

    291

    16 Nov 12

    23:58:07

    1

    Shower

    two 14"

    292

    17 Nov 12

    23:54:56

    2

    Shower

    two 14"

    293

    19 Nov 12

    00:33:27

    1

    Shower

    two 14"

    294

    18 Dec 12

    00:03:42

    1

    Shower

    two 14"

    (Flash magnitudes typically range between 7 and 10.)

    View More
    › 2005-06 Impact Candidates
    › 2007 Impact Candidates
    › 2008 Impact Candidates
    › 2009 Impact Candidates
    › 2010 Impact Candidates
    › Detailed info about all MEO Impact Candidates (PDF, <800 KB)
    › Impact Candidates reported to the MEO by independent observers

    MSFC Lunar Impact 2005-08 Flash Detections

    More About Lunar Impact Monitoring
    ›  When we observe
    ›  Who is involved
    ›  Observing facility
    ›  Meteor showers
    ›  Observing lunar impacts
    ›  Part of a comprehensive strategy

Other Resources

Contact Us

    Members of the media, please contact:
    Steve Roy
    Marshall Space Flight Center
    (256) 544-0034

    General information:
    Rob Suggs
    Meteoroid Environment Office
    Marshall Space Flight Center

    Are you an amateur astronomer?
    Do you have observations of any impacts listed in the table?

    Report observations:
    Danielle Moser
    Meteoroid Environment Office
    Marshall Space Flight Center

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