Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-23-2009 01:53 PM
NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission, known as LCROSS, will culminate with two lunar impacts at approximately 7:31 a.m. CDT (1231 GMT) on October 9. The mission will search for water ice in the Cabeus crater near the moon's south pole.
The ejecta cloud formed by the impact should be visible by U.S. amateur astronomers who are west of the Mississippi River using a telescope with at least 200x magnification (and maybe only possible with 300x and above). The event itself will last only about two minutes at most.
For those outside the viewing area and/or without the necessary equipment (binoculars will not suffice, per NASA), parties are being planned around the world to watch the web/NASA TV coverage of the impact.
This thread is devoted to announcements and post-event reports for impact night parties. To discuss the mission itself itself, see this topic.
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-23-2009 01:58 PM
NASA Ames Research Center announcement
LCROSS Impact Night
NASA Ames Research Center (Moffett Field, CA) will be hosting an all-night event (October 8 and 9) featuring a real-time moment in space exploration as the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) impacts the moon to search for water ice and vapor. This is an opportunity to witness space exploration as the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) impacts the moon to search for water ice and vapor.
Where: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
When: Thursday, October 8 - 7:00 pm through Friday, October 9 - 7:00 am
Presentations: 7 - 8:30pm Thursday
S. Pete Worden, NASA Ames Center Director
Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 Astronaut
Victoria P. Friedensen, Advanced Capabilities, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA
Outdoor Movies: 8:30pm Thursday - - 3:30am Friday - Three Major Motion Pictures Shown
Lunar Impact: 3:30am - 7:00am Friday
FREE ADMISSION: Open to the Public. Advance Tickets Required for Outdoor Movies. Respond early as seating is limited.
Please bring your own Blankets, Chairs, and Snacks.
Mercury7 Member
Posts: 360 From: Greenville, SC, USA Registered: Aug 2006
posted 10-05-2009 07:13 PM
I was just reading up on the NASA probe impact, I have been looking forward to seeing the dust kicked up through my telescope. Then I see that they have scheduled it for 7:30 in the morning. This just seems like an event that is an opportunity to make people knowledgeable about what NASA is doing and why. I can't help but think the PR people at NASA are asleep at the wheel... they could have made a big deal out of this and hosted star parties all over the U.S. and drummed up support for Constellation.
Editor's note: Threads merged.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-05-2009 07:19 PM
The time of the impact (now projected for 7:31 a.m. EDT/4:31 a.m. PDT) was dictated by the target crater that was selected, which in turn was chosen for its chances of being the best possible candidate to return evidence of water.
While it would be nice if the impact coincided with maximum viewing opportunities, the science objectives of the mission must take precedence.
That said, when NASA originally scheduled the launch of LCROSS, it was to occur during nighttime across the continental United States. The launch was delayed though, and the target crater was changed in light of the recent water findings by Chandraayan-1, leading to the current targeted impact.
As evident above, visible or not visible, there are parties planned across the nation.
tegwilym Member
Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
posted 10-06-2009 02:14 PM
4:30am here in Seattle. I'll drag myself out of bed and have my own party out in the backyard with our 12" LX200. I'll try imaging the impact with the scope and a webcam taking video, and recording NASA TV.... then back to bed to sleep since I still have to get up for work later!
Posts: 353 From: Chattanooga, TN Registered: Dec 2007
posted 10-09-2009 07:04 AM
Beautiful look at the moon here in southeast TN, but I wasn't able to see any signs of either impact. I got a much better image than I was expecting in the telescope, but the optics just weren't powerful enough to get in as close as was needed. Oh well. As I told my wife, just trying was half the fun.
Rizz Member
Posts: 1208 From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii Registered: Mar 2002
posted 10-09-2009 05:18 PM
Did anyone actually see anything worthy through their scopes?
I had a 12" Dob out at 1:31 local time but the seeing conditions were very poor.
tegwilym Member
Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
posted 10-09-2009 05:28 PM
Watched NASA TV warm and cozy in my bed at 4:30. Cloudy outside.
tegwilym Member
Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
posted 10-09-2009 05:39 PM
Has anyone noticed the negativity over the LCROSS impact with the public today? I've been reading articles in the local paper and news sites (where comments can be left) it appears that about 90% of the comments are negative over the whole thing.
Okay, there wasn't a big explosion, or a huge dust cloud visible from Earth, but the mission has been a success! Who knew what it would look like? It wasn't supposed to be a fireworks display for the public's enjoyment, and since they didn't see the destruction expected, they all complain about NASA wasting money.
I'm just appalled and disappointed with the public's reaction over this. Look at these comments from the local TV news channel. Scroll down to the bottom. You may be able to pick me out of the crowd. Should be obvious!
Rizz Member
Posts: 1208 From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii Registered: Mar 2002
posted 10-09-2009 07:07 PM
Many news sites had headings such as "NASA bombs the Moon".
The media just isn't what it used to be.
tegwilym Member
Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
posted 10-10-2009 12:59 PM
I did write some comments on this also on my blog page last night.
Again, good job on the success NASA! (Now we just need to work on the public view of SCIENCE again.)
gliderpilotuk Member
Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
posted 10-10-2009 01:30 PM
The BBC's dumbed-down commentary was brilliant.
It had an Apollo CM circling the moon, then hitting it in 2 stages! You couldn't have made it up.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2474 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 10-12-2009 02:34 PM
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3120 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 10-12-2009 03:45 PM
quote:Originally posted by gliderpilotuk: It had an Apollo CM circling the moon, then hitting it in 2 stages! You couldn't have made it up.
I thought I had imagined that, but now I suppose it must have really happened.
posted 09-23-2009 01:53 PM
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