MOON IS OUT ON THE FLASH

Ireland's 1st clip of rare lunar event

- BY JONATHAN McCAMBRIDGE

AN ASTRONOMER has captured what is believed to be the first video of a lunar impact made from the island of Ireland.

It was recorded by Andrew Marshall-Lee, a final-year PhD student, on Friday using the Armagh Robotic Telescope at the city’s Planetarium.

He said lunar impact flashes are rare events which are seen only occasionally, although they are more likely to be detected during major meteor showers when the moon passes through debris left behind by comets and asteroids.

He added: “These are normally no bigger than a golf ball.