'Biggest observed meteorite impact' hits Moon (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Rebecca Morelle
Science reporter, BBC World Service

Scientists say they have observed a record-breaking impact on the Moon.

Spanish astronomers spotted a meteorite with a mass of about half a tonne crashing into the lunar surface last September.

They say the collision would have generated a flash of light so bright that it would have been visible from Earth.

The event is reported in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

"This is the largest, brightest impact we have ever observed on the Moon," said Prof Jose Madiedo, of the University of Huelva in south-western Spain.



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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26325934

http://mnras.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/02/19/mnras.stu083

[mike_c]

1. of course, that suggests that near Earth space has not been entirely swept out yet....

...or that some objects are wandering in and out of close orbits.

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. Wow.

I don't think that one would have made through our atmosphere.

[progressoid]

3. Cool!

[freshwest]

4. Aliens did it. The History Channel says so. n/t