09-02-2006, 11:54 AM
By Simon Bevilacqua
TASMANIAN astronomers will be part of history today when they watch a space probe slam into the moon.
The European Space Agency's orbiter, SMART-1, will spear into the moon this afternoon about 3.40pm.
The probe, the size of a household freezer, is expected to be travelling at 7000km/h when it smashes on a volcanic plain known as Lake of Excellence.
When it hits it will probably ricochet and gouge a 10m wide crater and send debris up to 20km off the surface of the moon.
Tasmanian scientists at the 26m Mt Pleasant radio telescope near Cambridge will monitor the impact.
Astronomers hope observation of the impact and fallout will help answer questions about what the moon is made of and where it came from.
There are two major theories about the formation of the moon.
One suggests it was created in the early stages of the solar system and was captured by Earth's gravity -- in which case it may have been formed independent of the Earth in a distant part of space.
The other suggests it was created from the debris caused by a collision of a Mars-sized planet with Earth -- in which case it is a chip off the old Earth block.
University of Tasmania radio astronomer Jamie Stevens said if the moon was created in the early stages of the solar system it would have a high level of iron.
But if it was created from the same stuff as Earth it would have much less iron because iron is not common near the Earth's surface.
"So if there's a high level of iron we'd suggest it has been captured by the Earth's gravity," Dr Stevens said.
He said it would be difficult for amateur astronomers to observe the impact during daylight hours.
But he said the area directly around the impact site should appear to glow in the hour after the crash.
"We have been asked to participate in these observations by the Joint Institute for Very Long Baseline Interferometry in Europe which is working in collaboration with ESA on this event," Dr Stevens said.
"Radio telescopes on the eastern side of Australia will have an excellent view of the event."
NASA has unveiled plans to put astronauts on the moon for the first time since 1972. A spaceship called Orion will replace the ageing shuttle fleet.
The ship's design is said to be 10-times safer than the shuttle.
The US space agency will use one ship to carry crew and another for cargo in the initial phase.
Astronauts are expected to fly on the vessel by 2014. The first lunar voyage should happen by 2020.
READY: The Mt Pleasant telescope team, from left -- Eric Baynes, Brett Reid and Jamie Stevens -- prepares to monitor today's lunar impact of SMART-1.
The European Space Agency's orbiter, SMART-1, will spear into the moon this afternoon.
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,2...21,00.html
TASMANIAN astronomers will be part of history today when they watch a space probe slam into the moon.
The European Space Agency's orbiter, SMART-1, will spear into the moon this afternoon about 3.40pm.
The probe, the size of a household freezer, is expected to be travelling at 7000km/h when it smashes on a volcanic plain known as Lake of Excellence.
When it hits it will probably ricochet and gouge a 10m wide crater and send debris up to 20km off the surface of the moon.
Tasmanian scientists at the 26m Mt Pleasant radio telescope near Cambridge will monitor the impact.
Astronomers hope observation of the impact and fallout will help answer questions about what the moon is made of and where it came from.
There are two major theories about the formation of the moon.
One suggests it was created in the early stages of the solar system and was captured by Earth's gravity -- in which case it may have been formed independent of the Earth in a distant part of space.
The other suggests it was created from the debris caused by a collision of a Mars-sized planet with Earth -- in which case it is a chip off the old Earth block.
University of Tasmania radio astronomer Jamie Stevens said if the moon was created in the early stages of the solar system it would have a high level of iron.
But if it was created from the same stuff as Earth it would have much less iron because iron is not common near the Earth's surface.
"So if there's a high level of iron we'd suggest it has been captured by the Earth's gravity," Dr Stevens said.
He said it would be difficult for amateur astronomers to observe the impact during daylight hours.
But he said the area directly around the impact site should appear to glow in the hour after the crash.
"We have been asked to participate in these observations by the Joint Institute for Very Long Baseline Interferometry in Europe which is working in collaboration with ESA on this event," Dr Stevens said.
"Radio telescopes on the eastern side of Australia will have an excellent view of the event."
NASA has unveiled plans to put astronauts on the moon for the first time since 1972. A spaceship called Orion will replace the ageing shuttle fleet.
The ship's design is said to be 10-times safer than the shuttle.
The US space agency will use one ship to carry crew and another for cargo in the initial phase.
Astronauts are expected to fly on the vessel by 2014. The first lunar voyage should happen by 2020.
READY: The Mt Pleasant telescope team, from left -- Eric Baynes, Brett Reid and Jamie Stevens -- prepares to monitor today's lunar impact of SMART-1.
The European Space Agency's orbiter, SMART-1, will spear into the moon this afternoon.
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,2...21,00.html