The Dutch Observatory

October 8, 2009 on 6:58 am | In Uncategorized | Comments Off

Tomorrow the LCROSS will impact the crater Cabeus on the South Pole on the moon.  Dan Schmitt and I spend some time last week getting familiar with the area where the impact will happen.  This morning I made a trial run of the event.  Here are two of the images made of the crater and impact area.  The Centaur upper stage is anticipated to impact at 7:31:30 and LCROSS is following at 7:35:45 Easter Time.  In the left image the impact location is in the right wing of the dark area a little left of the center, just behind the brighter spot.  (Reminds me of a soaring Eagle)  Tomorrow I intend to use another barlow whith a little more magnification and center around this area.  Keep my fingers crossed that not in the last minute a cloud will obscure the event as 4 months ago when a 1/2 hour storm came though as I was ready to image an ISS transit of the Sun.