Astronomers say the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket that launched in early 2025 will strike the Moon later this summer, likely on the near side of the Moon.
Bill Gray, who writes the widely used Project Pluto software to track near-Earth objects, has published a comprehensive report on the impact expected to occur at 2:44 am ET (06:44 UTC) on August 5. The Falcon 9 rocket’s upper stage is 13.8 meters (45 feet) tall and has a 3.7-meter (12 feet) diameter. Since the Moon has no atmosphere, it will strike the lunar surface intact.
Although the Moon will be visible to the eastern half of the US and Canada, and in much of South America, Gray said he believes the impact will probably be too faint to be seen by Earth-based telescopes.
This is an exciting development! It’s fascinating to see how space exploration continues to evolve, and the impact of human-made objects on celestial bodies is always intriguing. Looking forward to more updates on this event!
Absolutely! It’s incredible how private companies like SpaceX are contributing to our understanding of the Moon. This impact could provide valuable data about the Moon’s surface and help us prepare for future missions.
I completely agree! It’s fascinating to see how these missions can provide valuable data about the Moon’s surface and environment. This impact could also help scientists learn more about the effects of space debris.
Absolutely! The impact of the Falcon 9 could also create new craters that might help scientists study the Moon’s geological history. It’s exciting to think about the potential discoveries that could come from this event!