Ireland Captures Rare Lunar Impact Flash on Video During Geminid Shower

A northern Ireland observatory has captured a rare moment: a tiny space rock striking the Moon and briefly lighting up its surface. The footage, captured with the Armagh Robotic Telescope, is believed to be the first video recording of a lunar impact flash in Ireland and the second confirmed in the United Kingdom.

What happened

The sighting was made by Andrew Marshall-Lee, a final-year PhD student, who was monitoring the sky when the flash occurred. He used the Armagh Robotic Telescope (ART) to record the event on Friday, describing the moment as unforgettable.

Why these flashes matter

Lunar impact flashes are extremely brief—often lasting only a fraction of a second—and are difficult to detect. They occur most often when the Moon passes through debris streams left by comets and asteroids, especially during major meteor showers.

The tiny objects responsible are usually smaller than a golf ball and are far too faint to see with a telescope when in space. When they hit the Moon at high speed, their kinetic energy converts to heat and light, briefly vaporizing surface material and producing the flash we see from Earth.

For this event, the object was traveling at about 35 kilometers per second, and it was likely linked to the Geminid meteor shower, which produces many such fireflies of light on the Moon's face.

Expert commentary

Experts note that these flashes are brief and very faint, making real-time detection a notable achievement for modern observatories. The Armagh team’s footage highlights the power of robotic telescopes in observing rare space events.

What comes next

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium will continue investigating the origin of this particular impact and will share the video on its official site.

Summary

This event marks a significant milestone for Ireland in lunar observation. AOP’s capture demonstrates how automation and careful timing enable scientists to witness fleeting moments beyond our atmosphere. The Geminid shower provided the backdrop for this rare flash, linking Earth’s sky with the debris that travels through space.

Key insight: Tiny space rocks can briefly illuminate the Moon, and automated telescopes now allow real-time capture of these rare events. BBC coverage of the discovery

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