LCROSS Lunar Impact

[eskimo20 (Robert)]

Are we likely to see this through an 8 - 12" scope?

http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/...ick+to+enlarge.

Robert

[Astro78]

Hi Robert,

According to Nasa Yes

"Mission scientists estimate that the Centaur impact plume may be visible through amateur-class telescopes with apertures as small as 10 to 12 inches"

http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/observation.htm

to IIS

[eskimo20 (Robert)]

Originally Posted by Astro78

Hi Robert,

According to Nasa Yes

"Mission scientists estimate that the Centaur impact plume may be visible through amateur-class telescopes with apertures as small as 10 to 12 inches"

http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/observation.htm

to IIS

Thanks Astro 78.

I see that the impact will be optimized for viewing from Hawaii and that the impact sites will be chosen from - Shoemaker, Shakleton, Cabeaus, Faustini, Peary.

R

[leinad (Dan)]

Guys! Heads up ! 3hrs time from now.

On Tuesday morning, the LCROSS spacecraft will fly by the Moon only 9,000 km above the lunar surface and send back live streaming video for about an hour.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/lunarswingby/

Video stream coverage will begin approximately 5:10 a.m. PDT (1:10 p.m. GMT) on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. Please reload page after 5:10 a.m.

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/lc...gby/index.html

Twitter updates
http://twitter.com/LCROSS_NASA

[leinad (Dan)]

LCROSS has reached closest approach to the Moon for swingby. 3200 km from Moon!

[h0ughy (David)]

missed it

[leinad (Dan)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

missed it

Still going on now houghy
See second link above, they're mostly doing camera/attitude slew checks and data collection tests

It akes a minute or two for the stream to load

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Originally Posted by eskimo20

Thanks Astro 78.

I see that the impact will be optimized for viewing from Hawaii

I think 'optimiszed' is an anagram (imperfect) for ONLY.

Sadly the moon will be near/below the horizon for us

[iceman (Mike)]

Nice video recap on this site linked by leinad:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/lunarswingby/

[eskimo20 (Robert)]

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

I think 'optimiszed' is an anagram (imperfect) for ONLY.

Sadly the moon will be near/below the horizon for us

So you have a firm date/time for the impact?

Robert

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Originally Posted by eskimo20

So you have a firm date/time for the impact?

Robert

Est: October 9, 2009 at 11:30 UT (9:30pm Qld time)

[higginsdj]

30 minute before the Moon rises New Zealand should see something.

[Davekyn (David)]

Nasa podcast "first steps to lunar impact" implies that scopes of 10" - 12" may be able to see it-Shame many of us will not be situated to view this event.