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Smash it into the moon!
Don't know if anyone else thinks this is cool, but I think it's damned cool
SMART-1, a European spacecrafts that's been orbiting the moon to test an experimental propulsion system is reaching the end of its mission as it runs out of fuel. So what better to do with it than smash it into the moon!
AND, it may be visible on the west coast. It should impact tomorrow night (Saturday 9/2) at 10:41PM. The cloud of dust it kicks up might be bright enough to view with backyard telescopes. It'll be on the lower lefthand portion of the moon, in the area where it's dark, so that should help visibility. Predictions for the level of brightness range from bright enough to see with a simple telescope (and may binocs) all the way to not bright enough to be seen by observatories.
I know I'll be watching. Hope I see something!
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'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.'
-TJ
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