The Japanese lunar orbiter "Kaguya" has completed its main mission. But there's one final scientific endeavor: It will slam onto the moon's surface at about 2:30 p.m. ET (18:30 UT) on [7/9/09]. The impact is expected to occur on the near-side of the moon, in the dark area close to the limb, at lunar coordinates 80°E and 64°S, said European astronomers, who have mapped out the expected impact site using images from the the European Space Agency's SMART-1 lunar orbiter, which was also purposely crashed into the moon in 2006. More>>
- UPDATE - 10:32 a.m. Thursday, June 11:
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed the planned crash landing has occurred: "Kaguya was impacted to the south-east of near side of the Moon on June 10, 2009 (GMT)," the agency said in a statement. - UPDATE - 11 p.m. ET Wednesday, June 10:
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has not confirmed whether Kaguya hit the moon. But as is done on election night broadcasts, and after much anticipation, SPACE.com is declaring this impact a done deal as of 11 p.m.
CHANDRA, Akasha Devaloka (WQ) - The Moon is inhabited. In any case, according to Richard Hoagland (enterprisemission.com), it was in the past. Today, there are visible architectural structures on its surface. American, Russian, and other governments with lunar space programs are well aware of this: China, Japan, and India have successfully sent their own probes into lunar orbit. According to Stewart Swerdlow (expansions.com), it is possible to use an earth-based telescope to see moving lights and other activity on the lunar surface -- part of secret human programs that have continued for at least three decades since the US set out to land there. Will anger or awe overcome nations in response to the planned disclosure?
LINK: Stewart Swerdlow - Moon
