If you are reading this on Thursday morning, the collision has already happened and you can probably view the pictures (if any).<br><br> <a href="http://spaceweather.com/">http://spaceweather.com/</a><br>
<br>At least my WA friends will not have to stay up as late as I must in Melbourne to glimpse of the Japanese Spacecraft that is predicted to impact on the lunar surface. I will be poking my head outside with a telescope and battle the clouds and cold to spot the lunar impact on the top LHS (turning their diagram upside down for the southern hemisphere) From
my copy of the open source software Stellarium, the Moon will be to the NE and about 80 degrees high (just look
up .. no need to use the sofware like I did!)
<br><br>This makes the impact time for Melbourne: Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 4:30:00 AM or Perth Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 2:30:00 AM<br><br>As my wife points out, the last time she looked at space junk in WA, it was Skylab with no space repellent to keep the debris away. Dont expect any debris clouds spiraling back or blinding flash... just a vague chance of spotting something through binoculars or largish telescope. We lost ours with the Gippsland bush fires that ran through our school camp back in February so I am relying on one that a friend loaned me. Fingers crossed .. <br>
<br>
<blockquote>Kaguya is a big spaceship. It masses 2,900 kg and
will hit the Moon at an oblique angle traveling approximately 6,000
km/hr. Whether it tumbles and bounces along the lunar surface or
runs headlong into some towering crater wall, no one can say. Clues
to the end of Kaguya will come on June 10th in the form of an explosive
flash (or lack thereof) and high-res images of the crash site taken
by future lunar orbiters.<br></blockquote><br>If nothing happens, just wave your fist at the moon and get back to writing reports.<br><br>
Regards Roland<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">SpaceWeather.com</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:swlist@spaceweather.com">swlist@spaceweather.com</a>></span><br>
Date: 2009/6/10<br>Subject: Japanese Spacecraft Set to Hit the Moon<br>To: "SpaceWeather.com" <<a href="mailto:swlist@spaceweather.com">swlist@spaceweather.com</a>><br><br><br>Space Weather News for June 10, 2009<br>
<a href="http://spaceweather.com" target="_blank">http://spaceweather.com</a><br>
<br>
IMPACT ALERT: Japan's Kaguya will crash into the Moon on Wednesday, June 10th, around 1830 UT. The timing favors observers in Asia and Australia, who might be able to see a flash of light or a plume of debris rising from the Moon's southeastern limb. The spacecraft masses 2,600 kg and it will slam into the lunar surface at 6,000 km/hr. No one knows, however, how bright the flash might be or whether it will be visible even through large telescopes. Images of the crash, if any are captured, will be posted on <a href="http://spaceweather.com" target="_blank">http://spaceweather.com</a> .<br>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead<br>