NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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The Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory (ALaMO) consists of two observatory domes, a 15 meter (50 ft) tower with a roll-off roof, and an operations center with laboratory space. (NASA)

> Large (2160 x 1440, 72 ppi)
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The Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory (ALaMO) consists of two observatory domes, a 15 meter (50 ft) tower with a roll-off roof, and an operations center with laboratory space. A 14" Ritchey-Chrétien telescope resides in the tower. The roof rolls off for easy access to the night sky. (NASA)

> Large (2048 x 1536, 72 ppi)
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The Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory (ALaMO) consists of two observatory domes, a 15 meter (50 ft) tower with a roll-off roof, and an operations center with laboratory space. A 20" Ritchey-Chrétien telescope is housed in the dome in the foreground. The telescopes are equipped with computerized mounts so that observations can be controlled from the operations center (middle). (NASA)

> Large (2008 x 3008, 72 ppi)
> Medium (516 x 773, 72 ppi)
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A 14” Ritchey-Chrétien telescope with a focal reducer and astronomical video cameras at the Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory (ALaMO). This telescope is used to observe the moon for lunar impact flashes. (NASA)

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A second observatory in Chickamauga, Georgia (Walker County) became operational as of September 15, 2007. The facility consists of a ground level building with a roll-off roof. This observatory is run remotely from Marshall Space Flight Center. (NASA)

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This drawing superimposed on an image of the moon illustrates the field of view of a telescope used to observe impact flashes. Observations of the moon are performed when the solar illumination is between 10 and 55 percent, yielding 10-12 observing nights per month. (NASA)

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Simultaneous observations of the moon are performed in order to rule out flashes from noise and satellites. This example flash was observed November 17, 2006 when the Meteoroid Environment Office was only operating two telescopes (as of September 2007 three telescopes are used). The top image is the flash as observed from the tower of the Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory (ALaMO). The bottom image is the same flash as observed from the south observatory dome of the ALaMO. (NASA)

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Individual video frames of the May 2, 2006 lunar impact flash as observed from the Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory (ALaMO). (NASA)

> Quicktime, 2.2 Mb

This animation is an artist’s conception depicting a small but powerful meteoroid strike on the surface of the moon. Scientists at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center at the Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory (ALaMO) in Huntsville, Ala., capture lunar impact flash video caused by such strikes several times a month. NASA is studying these impacts to help safeguard future lunar explorers and long-term science missions to the moon. (NASA)

> Windows Media, 6.1 Mb

This video shows several lunar impact flashes and other events detected at the Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory (ALaMO). It plays in real time. A green box marks the area where the flash was observed. (NASA)