Observation of a Lunar impact flash in August 2025

NELIOTA-III (Near-Earth object Lunar Impacts and Optical TrAnsients) is a new Horizon Europe project, funded by the European Union, coordinated by ESA and implemented by the National Observatory of Athens. Building on the success of previous two campaigns, this initiative will significantly boost Europe’s ability to detect and analyse lunar impact flashes.

In mid-August 2025, the NELIOTA team began observations under the new project. During the first four nights of the campaign, five lunar impact flashes were detected but only one was validated due to its detection in both sensors. This flash is the 193rd to be validated since the project’s inception in 2017.