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Mystery on the Moon: Scientists investigate transient lunar lights

Mysterious flashes on the Moon, known as TLPs, may result from meteoroid impacts or escaping lunar gases, revealing hidden lunar activity.

October 20, 2025 / 15:28 IST
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A map of all of the lunar impact flashes captured over the past nine years by the Greek NELIOTA program (Image: NELIOTA project)
A map of all of the lunar impact flashes captured over the past nine years by the Greek NELIOTA program (Image: NELIOTA project)

For quite some time, astronomers have noticed odd lights on the Moon. These lights are known as Transient Lunar Phenomena (TLPs). There are more than 3,000 reports, ranging from brief flashes to extended glows. This case is still a mystery for scientists.

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One leading hypothesis attributes these mysterious lights to meteoroid impacts. When small space rocks crash into the surface, they can cause bright flashes. These flashes can be visible on Earth. Such events might account for many of the short-lived TLP sightings recorded by astronomers over centuries.

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