Neliota project detects flashes from lunar impacts
Using a system developed under an ESA contract, the Greek Neliota project has begun to detect flashes of light caused by small pieces of rock striking the Moon's surface.
Neliota is the first system that can determine the temperature of these impact flashes.
"These observations are very relevant for our Space Situational Awareness programme," says Detlef Koschny, co-manager of the near-Earth object segment in ESA's Space Situational Awareness programme.
"In particular, in the size range we can observe here, the number of objects is not very well known. Performing these observations over a longer period of time will help us to better understand this number."