Meteoroids, also known as the stars, are intensive study due to the potential risks of satellites and future bases on the Moon. Although most are burned upon entering the earth’s atmosphere, they are in addition to their impacts on other objects may have catastrophic consequences.

An important research program, the Neliota (Near-Earth Object Lunar Impacts and Optical Transients), has been implemented since 2015 by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Athens National Observatory (NSA), with the aim of enhancing planetary defense. The program has entered its third phase, focusing on the study of meteoroids moving at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per second and can cause serious damage to space infrastructure.

The Moon acts as an ideal “workshop” for observing these phenomena, as the protective atmosphere is absent and each meteoroid impacts directly to its surface. Through the study of the flashes caused during bumps, scientists appreciate the mass, radius and temperature of the objects, as well as the size of the craters created.

According to Dr. Alexios Liakos, an authorized researcher at the Institute of Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Scripture and scientifically responsible for the program, 193 has been identified to date fully confirmed flashes and 103 candidates. The analysis shows that most objects had a mass of less than 200 grams and a radius of 1-3 cm, but their kinetic energy is enough to cause significant damage to artificial satellites or future facilities on the Moon.

The temperatures developed during bumps reach 3,000-4,000 degrees Celsius in fractions of a second, which contributes to the selection of suitable materials for space missions. The third phase of the program, funded by Horizon Europe, started in the summer and will last three years. Already during the first observations a new confirmed tone was identified on the Moon.

The program is being held at the Kryoneri Observatory of Corinth, where the world’s largest telescope operates in the world dedicated to the Moon observation. Using two advanced digital cameras and automated software, the flashes are recorded and analyzed.

The aim of Neliota is to create an open database of lunar flashes, accessible to the scientific community. At the same time, ESA has launched the Lumio space mission, with a small Cubesat satellite that will be launched at the end of 2026 to record flashes on the dark side of the Moon. Alexios Liakos and Alkistis Bonanou, Director of Research at IAADET/EAA, participate in this mission.