NASA Science News Needs An Editor
Bright Explosion on the Moon, NASA Science News
“The 40 kg meteoroid measuring 0.3 to 0.4 meters wide hit the Moon traveling 56,000 mph. The resulting explosion1 packed as much punch as 5 tons of TNT.”
Keith’s note: C’mon guys. Pick one system of measurement and stick with it – or show both systems for all measurements.
Oh yes, then there’s this statement: “U.S. Space Exploration Policy eventually calls for extended astronaut stays on the lunar surface.”
Huh? Has the author (Tony Phillips) been reading the news lately? NASA is not sending people to the Moon again per White House policy.
5 ton of TNT ?
40kg, 56000mph = 82133 fps … KE = 1.35E5 MJ
1 ton TNT = 4.2E3 MJ … KE = 32 ton TNT
no?
V = 56000mph = ~90,000km/h = ~25km/s
Ek = 0.5 * M * V^2 = ~1.24e10J = 1.24e4 MJ
Ek = ~2.9 tonnes TNT equiv.
Hmmm, okay, V = ~25km/s + 2.5km/s (lunar escape velocity)
Ek = ~3.6 tonnes TNT equiv.
Nope. Okay go backwards. 5 tons? Metric or imperial? Try metric. Ek = 5 tonnes TNT equiv. = 2.1e4 MJ
If M = 40kg, V = 32km/s = ~115,000km/h = 72,000mph
Nope. Doesn’t work.
I think they were referring to 5 tons of Trinitrotuna.
Apparently the impactor was “the size of a small boulder.” What does that even mean?
From the article:
“U.S. Space Exploration Policy eventually calls for extended astronaut stays on the lunar surface.”
LOL. Someone should tell NASA Science News that the official Obama Administration policy towards the Moon is “been there, done that”, and that Administrator Bolden has vowed “not in my lifetime” to lunar missions.
How’s that for space leadership?
Don’t worry – administrations will change along with it policy vis. NASA destinations. And, at least as some of us believe, a permanent research station on the moon depending on in-situ materials and ice, will get us to an equally permanent research outpost on Mars. It is also, as always, hard to see what good a flag and boots trip to Mars would do.
I believe that none technical people at NASA i.e. the PAO need to get some technical training.
Dont show them the trailer to Gravity, we will get a “ISS destroyed by small boulder sized asteroids” tomorrow
“Lunar meteor showers have turned out to be more common than anyone expected“
Since a “meteor” is the visual result of meteoroid passing through an atmosphere, and the Moon has no atmosphere worth mentioning, how can “Lunar meteor showers” even exist, let alone be common? Lunar meteoroid showers would be the correct term.
Cooke’s statement that “These fireballs were traveling along nearly identical orbits between Earth and the asteroid belt.” must refer to the meteoroid’s dust tails caused by solar radiation (which always point away from the Sun, not always behind the moving meteoroid as often depicted in the movies). I can think of no other explanation for the “fire” reference, or any other visual aspects.
I agree. NASA Science News could certainly use an editor.