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Observe the LCROSS impacts!
Date & Time:
Projected lunar impact is on October 9, 2009 at 11:30 UT (7:30
a.m. EDT, 4:30 a.m. PDT), +/- 30 minutes.
The impact time will be refined as the mission progresses. Two
weeks prior to impact, the impact time will be known to within
a second.
Check back on this webpage for the most up-to-date timing information.
Location:
LCROSS will impact at the south pole of the Moon. The final site
selection will be made 30 days prior to impact.
Check back on this webpage for the most up-to-date impact location
information:
On Monday, June 29, 05:23 UT
LCROSS flyby captured by Paul Mortfield, Backyard Astronomer
Sierra Remote Observatories. See
animation of LCROSS in flight.
26 June 2009:
From Dan Andrews:
The latest shots that show the
LCROSS mission continuing on its journey.
June 23:
LCROSS executed a swingby of the Moon.
See
Recap Video and Additional Images!
There are a variety of ground-based and orbital observatories
that can observe the dust and water plumes caused by the LCROSS
impacts. The LCROSS team encourages observations of the impacts
to further our understanding of impact physics, lunar resources
(water), and lunar geology and origins (polar soil and regolith),
and thereby support scientific and exploration objectives. The
LCROSS Project is committed to working with the observational
scientists to provide mission information that is critical to
the planning and proposal of observations. In this way the LCROSS
Project aims to develop a coordinated observation campaign utilizing
ground-based and space-based observational assets.
With the impacts of the Centaur and Shepherding Spacecraft occurring
within a permanently-shadowed crater near one of the lunar poles,
the impacts themselves may be obscured by the crater rim as seen
from Earth and Earth orbit. However, ground-based and orbital
observatories will observe the dust and water vapor plume caused
by the two impacts into the lunar surface. The impact ejecta cloud
should be in view of Earth assets just several seconds after impact
and will peak in brightness around 30-100 seconds after impact.
You may download the Astronomer
Justification document. This text describes information relevant
to the LCROSS mission. Astronomers may use this sample text in
support of writing observing proposals to observe the LCROSS impacts
and thereby participate in the LCROSS mission. Specific sections
of this document include: Introduction, The LCROSS Mission, Mission
Relevance and Impact to State of Knowledge, LCROSS Science Goals,
LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft (S/S-C) Measurement Goals, LCROSS
Shepherding Spacecraft Payload, Impact Characterization, Lunar
Polar Hydrogen - What we Know and Don't Know, The History of Lunar
Volatiles: Sources and Sinks, Additional Sample Text: Experimental
Design, Description of Experiment.
For additional information regarding the LCROSS
Observation Campaign, please contact Jennifer Heldmann, Observation
Campaign Coordinator (Jennifer.Heldmann@nasa.gov).
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Amateur Observations
Mission scientists estimate that the Centaur impact plume may
be visible through amateur-class telescopes with apertures as
small as 10 to 12 inches. The LCROSS mission
will actively solicit images of the impact from the public. These
images will provide a valuable addition to the archive of data
chronicling the impact and its aftermath. Prior to launch, amateurs are working with the science team in imaging potential impact target areas in order to refine telescope pointing strategies for the impact. To participate in the LCROSS Amateur Observation Campaign, visit the LCROSS_Observation group.
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