NASA Discovers Moon to Collide with 100 Space Rocks in a Day
NASA has revealed an unprecedented celestial event set to occur this coming Wednesday. The moon will encounter a swarm of approximately 100 meteoroids, making them visible as ‘moonquakes’ or ‘mini-moonshakes.’
While these impacts won’t cause any immediate threats, they’re poised to provide a fascinating scientific spectacle. The space rocks, ranging from tiny fragments to ones as large as a car, will strike the lunar surface at speeds up to 38,000 mph, creating craters that’ll glimmer in the sun’s light.
The spectacle is a result of Earth and the Moon passing through a field of debris from the tau Herculid meteor shower. Although Earth is expected to avoid a direct hit, the Moon won’t be so lucky. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) should capture the event, offering a unique opportunity to study the aftermath of these impacts.
"Seeing these impacts in action will give us insight into the impact history and dynamics of the Moon," said Dr. WilliamDiamond, a lunar scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
While we won’t see or feel the impacts from our vantage point on Earth, sky watchers can tune in to NASA’s live coverage starting at 9:30 PM EDT on Tuesday to witness the event unfold.
