moon explosions

[pomsta]

how or where can l watch the controlled explosions on the moon today

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think that's likely to be visible to the naked eye. The moon is a quarter of a million miles away

[scotman]

apparently it will be visible using telescopes. I think that may mean astronomical ones. Possibly the NASA website will broadcast something.

[pomsta]

l`ve been told it`s on the web, any ideas of web sites

[heathfield]

You missed it - and so did everyone else. NASA expected to see a bright flash as the vehicle struck the moon, and a huge plume of debris rising from the impact site. They saw neither. Red faces all round, and doubtless a 'cost versus results' inquiry is already under way.

[ABerrant]

The mission is not to cause a flash and dust cloud but to search for water. Unfortunately to garner attention from the Medai and others NASA feel the need to 'X-Factor'-ise their operations. NASA appear very happy with the impacts...

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/index.html

[heathfield]

The expected flash was always incidental, but the expected 10km high dust plume was pretty vital to the project, since it was an analysis of this dust by the following LCROSS vehicle that was the main point of the mission.
As to NASA being happy with the result, they hardly seem to be over the moon about it...

http://blog.taragana.com/n/nasas-water-hunting-moon-bombing-mission-may-have-hit-a-dry-hole-192348/

[mallam]

Your link gives the impression they are more likely to be under the moon, heath. I had thought all on my little own that with their luck it would be a repeat performance of the Mars screwup, and they would manage to choose a bit with a thin crust and go straight through!

[wendilla]

http://www.spaceweather.com/

[heathfield]

Hi Mallam...Seems the cheese sensor supplied by the Kraft Corporation didn't work either! Maybe it hit a supersized hole in the southern Emmental area...