June 30, 1178
Five Canterbury monks observing the Moon reported an unusual phenomenon, where they saw 'the upper horn [of the Moon] split in two.' This account is considered by some historians to be related to the Giordano Bruno impact event.
Canterbury, England | the Cathedral of Canterbury
![Watercolor painting based depiction of Five Canterbury monks observing the Moon reported an unusual phenomenon, where they saw 'the upper horn [of the Moon] split in two.' This account is considered by some historians to be related to the Giordano Bruno impact event. (1178)](https://storage.googleapis.com/historysnacks_images/2J7OCPCl.jpg)
On June 30, 1178, five monks from the Canterbury Cathedral, located in what is now Canterbury, England, reported witnessing a peculiar celestial event involving the Moon. The account, noted in the medieval manuscript “Chronicle of Gervase,” describes an unusual phenomenon observed in the early evening hours.
The monks observed the upper horn of a new crescent moon seemed to split in two. According to their descriptions, “the upper horn [of the moon] split in two, and from the midpoint of the division a flaming torch sprang up, spewing out, over a considerable distance, fire, hot coals, and sparks.” This vivid depiction suggests a highly unusual and dramatic occurrence.
Some historians and astronomers speculate that this account might correlate with a lunar impact event on this date, potentially involving a meteorite striking the Moon. One of the theories, proposed centuries later, linked the Canterbury observation with a significant crater formation on the lunar surface known as the Giordano Bruno crater.
The Giordano Bruno crater, named after the Italian philosopher, is approximately 22 kilometers (about 14 miles) in diameter. If the observation by the monks indeed correlates with its formation, the impact would have released substantial energy, possibly visible from Earth.
The significance of this event, if linked accurately to the Giordano Bruno impact, lies in its potential as one of the rare instances where a lunar crater’s formation was witnessed and recorded by humans. However, skepticism remains among scholars due to the lack of corroborating accounts from other observers and the absence of a seismic reaction on Earth, which would typically accompany such a massive impact.
Despite the debates, the monks’ account endures as an intriguing historical curiosity. It exemplifies the observational diligence of medieval scholars and their attempts to document and interpret the natural world around them, bridging the vast temporal span between past and contemporary scientific inquiry.
Source: www.universetoday.com