A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage is on a collision course with the Moon, with impact predicted for August 5, 2026. Scientists emphasize that the event is not dangerous for Earth but presents a unique scientific opportunity.
The 12-meter-long, 4,000-kilogram rocket stage will hit the Moon near the Einstein crater at an estimated speed of 8,750 km/h. The impact is expected to create a new crater 20-30 meters wide and eject lunar dust several kilometers high, which can be observed from Earth using telescopes.
Steven A. Hauck, professor at Case Western Reserve University, highlighted that this is a controlled experiment with known variables like time, location, mass, and velocity. “These observations can help us understand the properties of very small asteroids that hit the Moon,” he said.
Astronomers and amateur skywatchers are encouraged to document the event, which will occur on the Moon’s near side facing Earth, illuminated by sunlight. The rocket stage has been drifting since January 2025 after delivering two robotic probes to lunar orbit.
Article source: mediaindonesia.com | Image credit: Phys.org
