Meteorite strikes moon during ‘super blood wolf moon’ eclipse

It was a sight that was out of this world.

A meteor struck the moon Monday for the first time ever during a lunar eclipse, according to a report.

Astrophysicist Jose Maria Madiedo confirmed to New Scientist that the flash of light seen by livestream-watchers was a meteor impacting the moon’s surface.

The impact occurred during the totality phase of the eclipse at 11:41 p.m. ET, Gizmodo reported.

Totality is when the moon is fully immersed in the Earth’s shadow.

Footage of the event was finally captured because Madiedo doubled the number of telescopes equipped with high-sensitivity video cameras he uses to normally monitor different parts of the moon from four to eight. Software analyzing the videos identified the lunar impact flash and determined its position on the moon.

“I had a feeling, this time will be the time it will happen,” he said.

Although Madiedo’s team hasn’t analyzed all the data he’s collected yet, he estimates the meteor involved could weigh around 22 pounds, according to Gizmodo.

The eclipse was dubbed the “super blood wolf moon” by scientists because the moon appeared bigger due to its closeness to Earth and its striking, unusual color.

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