NASA: Big Explosion Rocks the Moon

A rare explosion on the Moon that was equal in energy to about 70 kilograms of TNT was witnessed by NASA scientists, who said the blast was caused by a meteoroid slamming into it, reports the BBC News. It appears to have gouged a crater that is nearly 10 feet wide and a little over a foot deep. Meteoroids, which orbit around the Sun or another star, are small rocky or metallic objects.


The blast occurred near the edge of Mare Imbrium or the Sea of Rains. The meteoroid was most likely part of a shower of "taurids" that also hit Earth in late October and early November. The Earth's atmosphere intercepts and vaporizes the taurids. Because the Moon has no atmosphere, they explode on the surface.


The explosion was spotted on Nov. 7 by NASA astronomer Rob Suggs of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., as he was testing a new 10-inch telescope and video camera. "People just do not look at the moon anymore," Suggs told the BBC. "We tend to think of it as a known quantity. But there is knowledge still to be gained here." This is particularly important now that NASA plans to return to the Moon by 2020 so it can better protect astronauts.


:eek:

The moon is made of cheese everyone knows that.:)

The cow should have taken steroids. The cat made a clean getaway with the violin, and the little dog is roflhao. The dish and spoon got a room at motel six.

"It is unknown if terrorists are responsible for the explosions on the moon at this time" - a talking head

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dunkirk101
[b]NASA: Big Explosion Rocks the Moon

A rare explosion on the Moon that was equal in energy to about 70 kilograms of TNT was witnessed by NASA scientists, who said the blast was caused by a meteoroid slamming into it.......
....... This is particularly important now that NASA plans to return to the Moon by 2020 so it can better protect astronauts.
==========================================

Am I the only one that sees a contradiction here?

like we didnt know meteors hit the moon? thanks for the heads up BBC

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dunkirk101
[b]NASA: Big Explosion Rocks the Moon

A rare explosion on the Moon that was equal in energy to about 70 kilograms of TNT was witnessed by NASA scientists, who said the blast was caused by a meteoroid slamming into it.......
....... This is particularly important now that NASA plans to return to the Moon by 2020 so it can better protect astronauts.
==========================================

Am I the only one that sees a contradiction here?


Just imagine if that thing has missed the moon and hit earth instead :eek:

Most likely it would have burned up in the atmosphere. Even if it hit with the force of 70 kilograms of TNT, it would have caused less damage than one bomb dropped from any of our warplanes. Hardly a worldwide catastrophe.

well im not an expert or any thing or even an expert on anything.

But why arnt we looking up all the time?
i know the dinasaurs didnt care much for the weather, but raining meteors.........


luddite...

Actually we are looking up all the time. Astronomers, both professional and amatuer, are continually looking for asteroids and any other interesting phenomena. The fact that such a small impact on the moon was duly catalogued is a sign of just how closely the skies are watched. Of course surprises are possible, but the likelihood of a major disaster that we are not warned about in advance is fairly low. Whether we can prevent that disaster is a matter for speculation, but I wouldn't bet against us.

Odder, in 1969, to a real ol' lady: They're walkin' around up on the MOON up there...



Real ol' lady, noddin': I wunder what makes the moon... WHITE?




Odder, chucklin': I guess I'll have ta REFLECT on that...




Real ol' lady, noddin': Is it TRUE that they're playin' GOLF up there, Odder? And WHY?




Odder nods: Many, many CRATERS on the moon, ma'm! Where BETTER ta make a... hole in ONE?




www. Dubbya, while playin' in the Golf of Mexico... "We shall RETURN to the MOON!"




;)

One day Chicken Little was walking in the woods when -- KERPLUNK -- an acorn fell on her head

"Oh my goodness!" said Chicken Little. "The sky is falling! I must go and tell the king."
On her way to the king's palace, Chicken Little met Henny Penny. Henny Penny said that she was going into the woods to hunt for worms.

"Oh no, don't go!" said Chicken Little. "I was there and the sky fell on my head! Come with me to tell the king."

So Henny Penny joined Chicken Little and they went along and went along as fast as they could.

Soon they met Cocky Locky, who said, "I'm going to the woods to hunt for seeds."

"Oh no, don't go!" said Henny Penny. "The sky is falling there! Come with us to tell the king."

So Cocky Locky joined Henny Penny and Chicken Little, and they went along and went along as fast as they could.

Soon they met Goosey Poosey, who was planning to go to the woods to look for berries.

"Oh no, don't go!" said Cocky Locky. "The sky is falling there! Come with us to tell the king." So Goosey Poosey joined Cocky Locky, Henny Penny and Chicken Little, and they went along as fast as they could.

Then who should appear on the path but sly old Foxy Woxy.

"Where are you going, my fine feathered friends?" asked Foxy Woxy. He spoke in a polite manner, so as not to frighten them.

"The sky is falling!" cried Chicken Little. "We must tell the king."

"I know a shortcut to the palace," said Foxy woxy sweetly. "Come and follow me."

But wicked Foxy Woxy did not lead the others to the palace. He led them right up to the entrance of his foxhole. Once they were inside, Foxy Woxy was planning to gobble them up!
Just as Chicken Little and the others were about to go into the fox's hole, they heard a strange sound and stopped.

It was the king's hunting dogs, growling and howling.
How Foxy Woxy ran, across the meadows and through the forests, with the hounds close behind. He ran until he was far, far away and never dared to come back again.
After that day, Chicken Little always carried an umbrella with her when she walked in the woods. The umbrella was a present from the king. And if -- KERPLUNK -- an acorn fell, Chicken Little didn't mind a bit. In fact, she didn't notice it at all.

The End