SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Is About to Crash Into the Moon—and It Could Be Visible From Earth
A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage is projected to impact the Moon's sunlit surface, potentially creating a debris plume visible from Earth. Researchers from UT Austin have modeled the crash to help amateur and professional astronomers attempt to observe this unprecedented lunar event.
Why it matters
This event offers a rare opportunity to study the physics of high-speed space debris impacts on the lunar surface, providing valuable data for planetary science and orbital mechanics.
If you own a strong enough telescope, you might be able to witness history on Wednesday: A dead rocket is going to crash into the Moon.
On August 5, at around 6:34 am UTC, a spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is expected to hit the Moon's sunlit western limb near Einstein crater at more than 5,400 mph. If it unfolds as predicted, the crash could throw up a plume of debris bright enough to briefly see from Earth with the right equipment.
That would be a first. No impact flash has ever been recorded on the sunlit face of the Moon, and that's exactly where the Falcon 9 crash is forecast to happen, kicking up plumes of dust that could stand out against the blackness of space. The findings are based in part on two new preprint studies.
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