The two viral flashes on the Moon were caused by high-speed meteoroids striking the lunar surface, not anything supernatural. Because the Moon lacks an atmosphere, even small space rocks can produce very bright, short-lived flashes detectable from Earth. Japanese astronomer Daichi Fujii has recorded roughly 60 such impacts since 2011 using telescopes and automated detection software. These observations help scientists estimate impact rates and improve planetary defense planning.
Two Bright Flashes on the Moon — Why Meteor Impacts, Not Mystery, Explain Them
The two viral flashes on the Moon were caused by high-speed meteoroids striking the lunar surface, not anything supernatural. Because the Moon lacks an atmosphere, even small space rocks can produce very bright, short-lived flashes detectable from Earth. Japanese astronomer Daichi Fujii has recorded roughly 60 such impacts since 2011 using telescopes and automated detection software. These observations help scientists estimate impact rates and improve planetary defense planning.
06:42 PM, 11/18/2025Science
Two bright flashes on the Moon? Here's what really happened
If you saw clips of two sudden, bright flashes on the Moon late in October, you witnessed a perfectly natural—and scientifically useful—phenomenon. Although the Moon looks like a calm, glowing disk from Earth, it is continually struck by rock and debris from space. Because the Moon has no atmosphere to slow or burn up incoming material, even relatively small meteoroids collide directly with the surface and produce very brief but intense flashes.
How the flashes form. When a meteoroid or small asteroid slams into the lunar surface at tens of thousands of miles per hour, the energy of the collision converts into heat and light. Impact speeds can reach roughly 60,000 miles per hour (about 26.8 km/s), producing explosive, short-lived flashes that sensitive telescopes and cameras can detect from Earth.
How astronomers spot them. Observers use specialized telescopes and video systems trained on the Moon to look for transient bursts of light. Automated software scans the video for sudden motion or flashes, flagging candidates for human verification. Japanese astronomer Daichi Fujii, who runs several dedicated instruments, has recorded about 60 such impacts since 2011 using this approach.
Why the observations matter. These detections are more than eye-catching clips. By measuring how often small objects strike the Moon and estimating their sizes, scientists refine models of impact frequency across the inner solar system. That information helps improve risk assessments for larger objects that might threaten Earth and informs planetary defense planning.
Where the impactors come from. Many of the impactors are sporadic meteoroids, but some originate in streams associated with meteor showers—such as the Taurids—which are known to contain larger-than-average particles traveling at high speeds. Each observed impact adds to a growing dataset that sharpens our understanding of how frequently hazardous objects pass through Earth's neighborhood.
The takeaway. The two viral flashes were almost certainly meteoroid impacts—not supernatural events. They offer a reminder that the Moon is an active record of collisions, and that watching those collisions helps protect our planet by improving our knowledge of impact risks.
Credit: Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief at The Weather Channel. Observations by Daichi Fujii and others continue to expand our catalog of lunar impacts.