A lunar impact flash is the light produced from a meteoroid striking the lunar surface. Less than 1% of the kinetic energy involved in forming the crater is converted to light. Depending upon the velocity and mass, objects from tens of grams to hundreds of kilograms have been detected. Impact flashes have been observed and confirmed by different observing programmes around the world since 1999 and now total over 400. Amateur astronomers were involved in the first discoveries in 1999 and can still make valuable contributions; for example, by performing high frame rate video to resolve different phases in the impact fireball development and multiple waveband observations to establish the black body temperature of the impact - as has been pioneered by ESA’s NELIOTA project. Because amateur astronomers have plenty of free time, they can explore lower success rate, experimental observing approaches than professional observatories can. For example, attempting higher angular resolution imaging in order to see if ejecta clouds can be resolved, or even looking for impact flashes on the dayside of the Moon in shadowed/shaded areas near the terminator where ejecta clouds might become visible in sunlight. BAA members also hold archives of lunar videos of the day/night side of the Moon, and lunar eclipses, going back to the late 1980’s which can be studied to see if there any impact flashes here that would predate the 1999 discovery observations.
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