Possible triple lunar meteor impact in 1966/67
Updated: 2002 Feb. 13
From: "Ralph Dame"
To:
Subject: Meteor Moon Strikes
Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 23:38:02 -0500
Hello Joan and David,
In reference to the information on your iota.jhuapl.edu Web site,
I observed an interesting meteor Moon strike many years ago. It
occurred around 1966 or 1967 if I remember the year correctly.
It was within a year or so when I was around 16 to 17 years old. My
location was in Eliot, Maine at the time. I was using an inexpensive 180
power telescope with about a 3" objective lens. Then, and not until
recently did I understand how rare such an event was nor how fortunate I
had been to observe it. Briefly it occurred on the extreme right side of
the Moon. There were three separate strikes. Two separated by about 1/2
second and a third 1 to 2 seconds later. The total duration of each
explosion, looked to last less than 1 second. Therefore it seemed to
happen very fast. I could see what looked like a quick red fireball and
material ejected from the Moon's surface. It actually appeared much like
a nuclear explosion yet considerably faster and much shorter in
duration. It certainly was far more spectacular than any of the photos I
have seen posted to the net.
I expected to see something in the news about it or in one of the
science mags at the time, but never did. I thought then that it must
be no rare event and was not news-worthy. I had seen many meteoroids
enter the Earth's atmosphere on many occasions, so I really didn't
think it was any big deal then. Besides, who would really believe a
teenager even if I had known enough to report it.
Now, I will speculate they must have been extremely large masses.
Certainly had they hit Earth, They would not have been unnoticed.
Anyway, That's essentially what I observed nearly 35 years ago for
what it's worth. Hopefully you will find that information at least
interesting.
- And Ralph gives more information in a later message:
From: "Ralph Dame"
To: "'Joan and David Dunham'"
Subject: RE: Possible triple lunar meteor impact in 1966/67
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 22:23:16 -0500
Hi David,
First, Thanks for assigning initial credibility for the information
I wrote to you and Joan. My only initiative is in the interest of
pure science for whatever the information is worth. I'm sorry to
report I can not remember the exact year. 1967 is the year I most
associate it with. However that just as easily may be in error. The
stellar magnitude is not really appropriate to apply to the
observation. It was not just a quick white flash as the photos on
the net illustrate per se". I observed the complete results of the
impacts. That is a quick red/orange flash and the mushroom-shaped
plume that followed.
I remember the incident quite vividly. It was very clear and
comparatively large in the small area of the moon that the telescope
was covering. The plume was considerably more visible and longer in
duration that the flash. Again, the total sequence was of a very
short total duration in the telescope. The moon was nearly full so
it by itself was incredibly bright in the telescope. That was
primarily why I was looking at the edge. The impact appeared to
occur on the extreme right edge somewhere around 75 degrees circular
and perhaps slightly on the dark side edge. I did not see any
approach of an object. Much like having someone shoot a bullet in
the sand but with a quick visible explosion creating a short
duration mushroom shape plume upon impact. It was a side type view
so as the exact impact area was not visible after. I would expect
there would be a new crater or three formed from those impacts. I
was curious why it seemed to happen so fast and not observe any
residual but nevertheless, That's what it appeared to me at the
time. Anyway David, I hope this information is of some help or at
least you find it intriguing. The event certainly was for me as a
teenager. Perhaps some year new craters will be found there that
date to the mid 1960's. In the interim, I will continue to keep an
eye on the sky.
Thanks for your time,
Ralph Dame
1 Rowell Cove Road
East Kingston, NH
03827
Phone: 603-642-9520
Email: n4cqc@mediaone.net
ARS: N4CQC