To investigate the role of impacts as a source of gas in the Moon's atmosph
ere, we review a series of observations of the lunar limb made during inter
action with the Leonids (1995 and 1997), Quadrantids (1999) and Geminids (1
999). Using Chamberlain's model for the exosphere, with an appropriately ad
justed partition function, we calculated the scale height (and thus the kin
ematic temperature) and the emission of the Na atmosphere, and compared the
results with observations published in the literature. We found evidence o
f small enhancements of temperature and emission of Na during the 1995 and
1997 Leonids, while no enhancements were detected during the 1999 Quadranti
ds and Geminids. Possible explanations of the different behaviour are prese
nted.