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A massive astronomical explosion on the calm and mysterious surface of Earth’s only natural satellite, the Moon, has stunned scientists all over the world. The High-Resolution Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) of the American space agency NASA has identified a huge new crater recently formed on the surface of the Moon. According to NASA astronomers, this crater was formed due to the direct impact of a very fast moving meteorite. The collision was so strong that the crater created by its impact appears to be bigger in size than an entire football field. The explosion, recorded by the Lunar Impact Monitoring Program, is believed to be one of the most powerful impacts seen in recent decades, sparking new debate over lunar geology and the safety of future human missions.
The biggest difference between the Earth and the Moon is the atmosphere i.e. the protective shield. There is a dense atmospheric circle around our Earth. Whenever an asteroid or meteorite comes towards the Earth from space at a speed of 50,000 to 90,000 kilometers per hour, it gets burnt to ashes due to the intense friction and extreme temperature of the air in the mesosphere, which we call a falling star. In contrast, there is no atmosphere or protective circle of gases on the Moon. As a result, any small or big meteorite wandering in space directly hits the lunar soil i.e. Regolith without any obstruction or slowing down. NASA scientists estimate that the meteorite that caused this new explosion was made of very dense rocky metal, whose speed was about 20 to 25 kilometers per second.
According to data released by NASA scientists, the energy generated by this collision has been estimated to be equivalent to the explosion of several tons of TNT gunpowder. When the meteorite hit the surface, the immense kinetic energy produced a momentary but extremely bright flash, which could be seen as a white bright point even with powerful telescopes on Earth. The impact of the collision created a deep bowl-like crater about 70 to 100 meters in diameter on the moon’s surface. The intensity of the explosion can be gauged from the fact that the Moon’s inner white rocks and dust particles (Ejecta Blanket) scattered several kilometers away from the main crater, which has also partially covered the structure of the old craters.
This unprecedented event has been confirmed by comparative photographs taken by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC). The orbiter continues mapping the lunar surface. When scientists were matching old images (Before Images) of that particular landmass with new data (After Images), they saw a completely new and clear mark on the surface. In the pictures, bright rays spreading outwards from the center of the crater are clearly visible. Scientists say that this crater comes in the category of fresh craters formed in recent times, because space weathering has not yet had any effect on it and its sharp walls are in a brand new state.
This huge astronomical event has come to light at a time when NASA is preparing to send humans to the Moon again under its ambitious ‘Artemis Mission’ and build a permanent base camp there. India’s ISRO, China’s space program and European agencies are also working rapidly towards establishing a lunar base on the south pole of the Moon. In such a situation, the formation of a crater the size of a football field proves how risky it can be for astronauts and their lunar modules to live on the open land of the Moon. Space scientists believe that in the future, human settlements built on the Moon will have to be settled in underground lava tubes instead of open fields or several meter thick protective walls of regolith will have to be built over them, so that they can be safe from the direct attack of these deadly meteorites raining from space.