Moon watch

[Tim N]

This may not be everyones cup of tea (or coffee as the case may be) but at about 3.30am Wed the Japanese satellite which is orbiting the moon is going to crash into the moon, with the moon in almost full phase we SHOULD be able to see the "explosion" as a bright flash and / or plume of dust.
According to New Scientist "It is set to impact in the lower-right section of the moon's near side." and "Viewers should also expect to see a brief flash as some of the kinetic energy of the probe, which will be moving at 6000 kilometres per hour, is converted to heat and light in the collision."

SO if anyone is hanging about at 3.30am on Wed morning feel free to post some pictures for those of us who are nice and warm and in bed !!!

[Analog6]

Gee, you'd have to be lucky to catch it!  However, I'm often awake at that time, I seem to wake up at 3am every morning now, such a bore.

[Carmyllie]

No doubt now, hearing of such an exciting event, I too will be awake! Problem number one of course, is I couldn't capture it anyhow with my lens! The other likelihood will be we have rain predicted for the week and I am taking bets the spectacle will be concealed beneath cloud.

I'm opting for the safe, warm blanket option and will wait to see someone else's magic unfold.

Thanks for the tip off though Tim

[Ross and Cher]

As the saying in tag goes - You are up Odille - (I can safely say we won't be!!!) 

[annash]

It's gonna be 18.30 our time, so I don't suppose we will be able to see anything, shame really, but will still keep my eyes peeled!

[Tim N]

You may actually see it depending on moon rise / set times !! Keep your eyes open.

[Analog6]

OK.  I posted the question on Ice in Space.  Answer in thread below.  BUT it is Thursday morning at 4.30am.  And they said I would be lucky to catch it with a 300mm.  Pity you haven't still got that 600 lens, Tim.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=45964

The 'mud map' mentioned is here http://www.kaguya.jaxa.jp/en/communication/KAGUYA_Lunar_Impact_e.htm

Originally Posted by koputai  View Post
Just a correction.
1830 GMT equates to 4:30 am Eastern Standard Time, not 3:30 am.

Looks like Sydney is going to be clouded out for a change........

Cheers,
Jason.

Not only that, but that is Thursday morning (18:30 10/06/2009 + 10:00 = 28:30 10/06/2009 = 04:30 11/06/2009).

That little mudmap on the website seems to indicate that it is going to hit very close to the limb... Even if it is very bright, it might be very difficult to observe (that is even if I could get up that early in the morning ).

I'll check when I get home, but it seems to be further east than a set of craters I identified in some images I took last night and posted on another thread http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=45965. Brisbane is very close to the limb:

Brisbane E - 50.0° S, 71.2° E
Brisbane H - 50.3° S, 64.9° E
Brisbane X - 50.4° S, 67.4° E
Brisbane Y - 51.4° S, 69.8° E
Brisbane Z - 52.8° S, 72.4° E
and the info states that the impact will be almost 10 degrees further east. I'm beginning to think that it might not be visible at all.

Hmmm

[annash]

Anybody catch anything?  It was way too cloudy over this end to even see the moon 

[Tim N]

It was too cold to contemplate getting out of bed (well that was the forecast anyway )

[Ross and Cher]

WAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY too cold! We are rugged up inside with the fire on and no intention of going outside! Now if someone would pass the port???!!!

[Analog6]

I clumped up the road (to dodge the trees) with camera and big lens and big tripod and  . . ZILCH, NADA, NOTHING!  Even the guys with 12" telepscopes on Ice in Space didn't see anything, nor did the Qld Astronomical Society watch.

Bugger!

[Tim N]

Hubble maybe got something ? If it did we will have to wait a while before images are released !

[bigbob]

I thought Hubble was off line awaiting repairs