Artemis 2 spots elusive moon flashes, triggering fresh study of lunar impacts

Artemis 2’s moon flyby on the far side produced visible meteoroid impact flashes observed by the crew, something cameras struggle to capture. NASA and citizen scientists through the GEODES Impact Flash project are compiling timing and brightness data—coordinating with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and other assets—to better constrain how often impacts occur and what they mean for lunar craters and hazards, informing future missions and the Artemis Base Camp’s shielding needs.