Image by JAXA 2009 Projected Selene Impact Site
Japan's Kaguya (Selene) will crash into the Moon on Wednesday, June 10th, around 1830 UT. The timing favors observers in Asia and Australia, who might be able to see a flash of light or a plume of debris rising from the Moon's southeastern limb. The spacecraft masses 2,600 kg and it will slam into the lunar surface at 6,000 km/hr. No one knows, however, how bright the flash might be or whether it will be visible even through large telescopes. Images of the crash, if any are captured, will be posted on http://spaceweather.com
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA) launched "KAGUYA (SELENE)" using the H-IIA Launch Vehicle at 10:31:01 a.m. on September 14, 2007 (JST) from Tanegashima Space Center.
The major objectives of the "KAGUYA" mission were to obtain scientific data of the lunar origin and evolution and to develop the technology for the future lunar exploration.
"KAGUYA" consisted of a main orbiting satellite at about 100km altitude and two small satellites (Relay Satellite and VRAD Satellite) in polar orbit. The orbiters carried instruments for scientific investigation of the Moon, on the Moon, and from the Moon.
http://www.kaguya.jaxa.jp/index_e.htm
