2026 Falcon 9 lunar collision: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Falcon 9 moon impact diagram USGS.png|thumb|Diagram showing the estimated impact location.<ref name=Guardian1/>]] | [[File:Falcon 9 moon impact diagram USGS.png|thumb|Diagram showing the estimated impact location.<ref name=Guardian1/>]] | ||
On August 5 at around 06:35 UTC, the upper stage of a [[Wikipedia:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] rocket impacted the Moon near the [[Wikipedia:Einstein (crater)|Einstein]] crater. Amateur astronomers attempted to observe the collision, but were unsuccessful. The Moon's bright surface obscured any impact flash and the dust plume was too faint to visually detect. However, the [[Wikipedia:Very Large Telescope|VLT]] was able to | On August 5 at around 06:35 UTC, the upper stage of a [[Wikipedia:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] rocket impacted the Moon near the [[Wikipedia:Einstein (crater)|Einstein]] crater. Amateur astronomers attempted to observe the collision, but were unsuccessful. The Moon's bright surface obscured any impact flash and the dust plume was too faint to visually detect with amateur equipment. However, the [[Wikipedia:Very Large Telescope|VLT]] was able to conduct an analysis of the impact site and found spectral lines consistent with a dust plume. | ||
In the wake of the collision there is a lot of misinformation being spread on social media, and of course plenty of flerf hysteria. | In the wake of the collision there is a lot of misinformation being spread on social media, and of course plenty of flerf hysteria. | ||
Revision as of 00:34, 6 August 2026
On August 5 at around 06:35 UTC, the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket impacted the Moon near the Einstein crater. Amateur astronomers attempted to observe the collision, but were unsuccessful. The Moon's bright surface obscured any impact flash and the dust plume was too faint to visually detect with amateur equipment. However, the VLT was able to conduct an analysis of the impact site and found spectral lines consistent with a dust plume.
In the wake of the collision there is a lot of misinformation being spread on social media, and of course plenty of flerf hysteria.
Background
The rocket body was the upper stage of a Falcon 9 launched on 15 January 2025, carrying payloads for NASA's CLPS. After the mission, the upper stage was left in orbit. Astronomer Bill Gray later discovered that it was on an unintentional collision course with the Moon, and predictions suggested an impact near the Einstein crater, right at the edge of the Earth-facing side of the Moon, at about 06:35 UTC. Gray predicted the impact would leave a crater more than 17m wide. The rocket body was around the size of a five-storey building and weighed around 4,000kg.[2][1]
Observations
Failed visual observations
Amateur astronomers attempted to observe an impact flash and/or dust plume, but were unsuccessful.
| Observer | Viewing instrument | External link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Drunk Debunk Show, Reds Rhetoric | Celestron C8 Edge HD | YouTube livestream | |
| Chuck's Astrophotography | Celestron RASA 8 | YouTube livestream |
Very Large Telescope
The ESO's Very Large Telescope detected the dust plume and conducted spectral analysis (which didn't require a container). A spokesperson from the European Southern Observatory said:
We can confirm that the telescope detected spectral lines of sodium and lithium gas in the impact plume lasting for 5 to 10 minutes after impact
The sodium is likely to have originated from lunar soil, while the lithium may have come from the rocket body itself. [3]
Lunar orbiters
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter are planning on imaging the site, but it could take days for they have an opportunity to do so.