With the impacts of the Centaur and Shepherding Spacecraft occurring within a permanently-shadowed crater near one of the lunar poles, the impacts themselves may be obscured by the crater rim as seen from Earth and Earth orbit. However, ground-based and orbital observatories will observe the dust and water vapor plume caused by the two impacts into the lunar surface. The impact ejecta cloud should be in view of Earth assets just several seconds after impact and will peak in brightness around 30-100 seconds after impact.

For more information, download the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) Mission: Opportunities for Observations of the Impact Plumes from Ground-based and Space-based Telescopes presentation from the May 2007 AAS conference, the LCROSS Overview for Ground-based Observatories presentation, and the Observation Campaign Summary.

You may download the Astronomer Justification document. This text describes information relevant to the LCROSS mission. Astronomers may use this sample text in support of writing observing proposals to observe the LCROSS impacts and thereby participate in the LCROSS mission. Specific sections of this document include: Introduction, The LCROSS Mission, Mission Relevance and Impact to State of Knowledge, LCROSS Science Goals, LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft (S/S-C) Measurement Goals, LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft Payload, Impact Characterization, Lunar Polar Hydrogen - What we Know and Don't Know, The History of Lunar Volatiles: Sources and Sinks, Additional Sample Text: Experimental Design, Description of Experiment.

Observatories whose locations provide them with good, dark-sky views of the Moon at time of impact will be able to observe the thermal evolution of and the spectrographic properties of the ejecta plume. Observatories in other locations will be able to make observations of the longer time scale evolution of the OH exosphere. Ground-based observatories with plans for LCROSS observation studies include (but are not limited to) Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Apache Point Observatory, Infrared Telescope Facility, MMT, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Keck, Gemini North, and Subaru. Scheduled space-based observation assets include (but are not limited to) HST, LRO, and Odin.

Contact Jennifer Heldmann (Jennifer.Heldmann@nasa.gov) for additional information on the LCROSS Observation Campaign.

Amateur Observations

Mission scientists estimate that the Centaur impact plume may be visible through amateur-class telescopes with apertures as small as 10 to 12 inches. The LCROSS mission will actively solicit images of the impact from the public. These images will provide a valuable addition to the archive of data chronicling the impact and its aftermath. Prior to launch, amateurs are working with the science team in imaging potential impact target areas in order to refine telescope pointing strategies for the impact. To participate in the LCROSS Amateur Observation Campaign, visit the LCROSS_Observation group.