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Japanese probe to smash into the moon

A real Japan probe is set to crash into the surface of the moon:

probe

Japan’s Kaguya lunar orbiter will end its nearly two-year mission when it collides with the moon at 1830 GMT on Wednesday. Observers in Asia and Australia may be able to spot a bright flash or plume of dust from the crash, and researchers will study its impact site to watch how radiation and micrometeoroids weather the newly exposed lunar soil over time.

[via Danny Choo]

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6 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - June 10, 2009 at 9:01 am

Categories: Technology Tags: exploration, japan probe, kaguya, probe, space

Nero

Ok and what does mankind gain from this?

http://www.japanprobe.com James

Well, it took some neat video while it was still in orbit:

http://www.pinktentacle.com/2009/06/video-moon-low-altitude/

http://www.hormel.com Vonskippy

“Observers in Asia and Australia may be able to spot a bright flash or plume of dust from the crash”

Seems unlikely it has enough mass or velocity to raise a plume of dust that would be visible from earth. It’s the size of a pickup truck (2x2x4 meters and 2900Kg) and lunar orbital velocity is relatively small (175 m/s).

Smaller meteors (microscopic to several meters in size) hit the moon daily at MUCH greater speeds (41,000 m/s) and you don’t see the impact even with a large amateur telescope (i.e. 1 meter).
Anonymous

So when will we get Gundams?

Ryry

Soon enough.

helical

Actually, it’s already here. Go to Odaiba if you’re in the area

Japanese probe to smash into the moon

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