- #31
newjerseyrunner
- 1,532
- 637
Wow, that's insane. I would have thought it was closer to the size of a yoga ball than a baseball.Tom.G said:
Potential Impact of Meteoroid During Lunar Eclipse on January 21, 2019
- Context: Stargazing
- Thread starter russ_watters
- Start date
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- Tags
- Eclipse Lunar Lunar eclipse
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the lunar eclipse that occurred on January 21, 2019, with a particular focus on an alleged meteoroid impact observed during the event. Participants share their experiences of viewing the eclipse, discuss the visibility and conditions in various locations, and speculate on the implications of the reported impact.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- Some participants describe their viewing experiences of the lunar eclipse, noting varying visibility and atmospheric conditions.
- There are claims that the Moon was struck by an asteroid shortly before totality, with some participants asserting it was bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye.
- Questions arise regarding the asymmetry observed during the eclipse, with speculation that it may be due to atmospheric refraction bending sunlight around Earth.
- Participants express curiosity about the size of the impactor, with some suggesting it must have been larger than a small boulder to be visible from Earth.
- One participant mentions a preliminary estimate of the impactor's mass being around 22 pounds (10 kilograms), speculating on its potential size and impact energy.
- There is a discussion about whether lunar seismic sensors detected the impact and what that might imply about the impactor's characteristics.
- Some participants express skepticism about the lack of reports regarding the impact, questioning how such an event could go unnoticed given the number of cameras pointed at the Moon.
- There are references to past images and missions that might have captured similar effects during lunar eclipses.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the details of the meteoroid impact, with multiple competing views regarding its visibility, size, and the implications of the event. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of the impact and its significance.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include uncertainty about the exact characteristics of the impactor, the lack of definitive reports confirming the event, and the dependence on anecdotal observations from participants.
Who May Find This Useful
Readers interested in astronomy, meteor impacts, lunar phenomena, and observational experiences during celestial events may find this discussion relevant.