SMART-1 Moon impact on 3 Sept 2006: predictions and observation campaign
Abstract
SMART-1 was launched in 2003 and is currently orbiting the Moon on a 5 hours period until impact around 31 August 2006. The impact will take place in grazing incidence with mass of 285 kg at a velocity of 2 km/s in a latitude around 37 degree south. A slight thrusting will be operated in June to fine tune the exact time of contact. At present possible arrival time scenarios are around 3 Sept 2006, to permit nearside impact and adequate illumination conditions. We'll describe the operations until impact. We called the community to make predictions of impact magnitude, cloud ejecta dynamics, exospheric effects. We also called the ground based observers to perform coordinated measurements of the impact. Results from the coordinated multisite campaign will be discussed.
- Publication:
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European Planetary Science Congress 2006
- Pub Date:
- 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006epsc.conf..655F