Pliny Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/astronomers-spot-largest-ever-moon-explosion/6448/ Does this article make sense? The airless moon doesn't permit explosions as we know them. The glow from the impact comes from the sheer heat and hot gas of molten meteors, rather than combustion. Hot gas of molten meteors could make a flash of light possible, I suppose.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonam Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 Yes, it makes sense. Meteor impacts release lots of energy, and pretty much anything that releases lots of energy releases some of it as visible light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HurtinOntario Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 Yes, it makes sense. Meteor impacts release lots of energy, and pretty much anything that releases lots of energy releases some of it as visible light. Even in space with little or no oxygen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 (edited) Some explosions (or rapid burning) do not require oxygen or any oxidizer at all. The rapid generation of heat and gas would still appear as an explosion. A high order nuclear detonation does not require oxygen (not a chemical reaction), but surely it is considered an explosion. Other circumstances involving high pressures and/or temperatures in a fixed volume can also create explosions. Edited May 19, 2013 by bush_cheney2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonam Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 Even in space with little or no oxygen? No need for oxygen. There's a lot of ways to make light without an oxidation reaction. For example, black body radiation. All you need to do is heat something up enough and it will emit substantial quantities of visible light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmy Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 So... -some of the kinetic energy of a massive impact would be converted to heat -the heated materials emit radiant energy -the massive kinetic impact will throw heated material all over -some of the heated material will also be liquified or vaporized, expanding rapidly and ejecting even more heated material from the impact area. ...does that about cover it? -k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topaz Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 I found pictures of what it looked like here on Earth. http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/18/18344103-storming-sun-sets-the-skies-aglow?lite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmy Posted May 19, 2013 Report Share Posted May 19, 2013 No, Topaz, that's the Northern Lights. It has nothing to do with moon explosions. -k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonam Posted May 20, 2013 Report Share Posted May 20, 2013 So... -some of the kinetic energy of a massive impact would be converted to heat -the heated materials emit radiant energy -the massive kinetic impact will throw heated material all over -some of the heated material will also be liquified or vaporized, expanding rapidly and ejecting even more heated material from the impact area. ...does that about cover it? -k Yep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonam Posted May 20, 2013 Report Share Posted May 20, 2013 I found pictures of what it looked like here on Earth. http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/18/18344103-storming-sun-sets-the-skies-aglow?lite Me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmy Posted May 20, 2013 Report Share Posted May 20, 2013 Me too! I found a video of it! -k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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