Title
First Lunar Flashes Observed from Morocco (ILIAD Network): Implications for Lunar Seismology
Date Issued
25 July 2015
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Ait Moulay Larbi M.
Daassou A.
Baratoux D.
Bouley S.
Benkhaldoun Z.
Lazrek M.
Garcia R.
Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides
Publisher(s)
Kluwer Academic Publishers
Abstract
We report the detection of two transient luminous events recorded on the lunar surface on February 6, 2013, at 06:29:56.7 UT and April 14, 2013, 20:00:45.4 from the Atlas Golf Marrakech observatory in Morocco. Estimated visual magnitudes are 9.4 ± 0.2 and 7.7 ± 0.2. We show that these events have the typical characteristics of impact flashes generated by meteoroids impacting the lunar surface, despite proof using two different telescopes is not available. Assuming these events were lunar impact flashes, meteoroid masses are 0.3 ± 0.05 and 1.8 ± 0.3 kg, corresponding to diameters of 7–8 and 14–15 cm for a density of 1500 kg m−3. The meteoroids would have produced craters of about 2.6 ± 0.3 and 4.4 ± 0.3 m in diameter. We then present a method based on the identification of lunar features illuminated by the Earthshine to determine the position of the flash. The method does not require any information about the observation geometry or lunar configuration. The coordinates are respectively 08.15° ± 0.15°S 59.1° ± 0.15°E and 26.81° ± 0.15°N 09.10° ± 0.15°W. Further improvement on the determination of the flash position is necessary for seismological applications. This studies demonstrates that permanent lunar impact flashes observation programs may be run in different parts of the globe using mid-sized telescopes. We call for the development of an international lunar impact astronomical detection networks that would represent an opportunity for scientific and cultural developments in countries where astronomy is under-represented.
Start page
1
End page
21
Volume
115
Issue
April 1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Astronomía
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84931955498
Source
Earth, Moon and Planets
ISSN of the container
01679295
Sponsor(s)
The authors would like to thank the Partenariat Hubert Curien/Volubilis Program (PHC24675QJ, Impact rate in the Earth-Moon System), which provided financial support for the collaboration between Morocco and France. The Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers and the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées are also acknowledged for financial support. We are grateful to the Mr. Hila Omar and its company Atlas Golf Marrakech for putting at our disposal the equipments of their observatory.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus