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Sunday, September 03, 2006

 

SMART-1 flashes into oblivion and ESA releases simulation of SMART-1's last moments

Image Credit CFHT 2006

New Scientist reports that the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) caught the flash of SMART-1 impacting the Moon. You can see an animation of the flash sequence here. SMART-1 hit the Moon at about 7200 kilometres per hour and should have blasted a crater 5 to 10 metres wide. This may be visible in big amateur scopes (well, the ejecta blanket anyway).

In the meantime, the ESA has released a simulation of SMART-1's final moments, plus images of the approach path and some of the last science images (from a few days ago). Still waiting on the death plunge images.



Image Credit ESA.

Comments:
Thanks for all of that Ian. As usual, fascinating. You are so resourceful.
 
No problems, It was fascinating to follow. Sometimes there are advantages to being at the opposite ends of the Earth.
 
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