Last week the New York Times reported that evidence from three spacecraft indicates a presence of water on the moon. Now, another spacecraft, NASA's LCROSS probe, is scheduled to join the water hunt, this time looking specifically for hidden caches of water-ice. The best part? You can watch.
On October 9 at 7:30 a.m. EST, LCROSS will crash into the Cabeus crater, which has the highest concentration of hydrogen (an H2O clue) on the lunar south pole. The crash will create a debris plume that should be visible from Earth and space-based telescopes that are at least 10-to-12 inches. After flying through the first plume to collect data about any water-ice, hydrocarbons or organics, it will create another plume for us to see.
There are LCROSS Impact watch parties happening at planetariums and universities all across the country including at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Unfortunately the sun will already be up in New York, but the Inwood Astronomy Project is having a stargazing party at 6:30 a.m., followed by breakfast and a viewing of the impact live on NASA TV. Can't make the party? Watch NASA TV online.
If the moon does have usable water, TapIt can certainly think of a couple ways to use it. And the water would be great for moon missions to supply drinking water to astronauts or to create rocket fuel by splitting it into oxygen and hydrogen.
Image by dimitri c via stock.xchng
On October 9 at 7:30 a.m. EST, LCROSS will crash into the Cabeus crater, which has the highest concentration of hydrogen (an H2O clue) on the lunar south pole. The crash will create a debris plume that should be visible from Earth and space-based telescopes that are at least 10-to-12 inches. After flying through the first plume to collect data about any water-ice, hydrocarbons or organics, it will create another plume for us to see.
There are LCROSS Impact watch parties happening at planetariums and universities all across the country including at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Unfortunately the sun will already be up in New York, but the Inwood Astronomy Project is having a stargazing party at 6:30 a.m., followed by breakfast and a viewing of the impact live on NASA TV. Can't make the party? Watch NASA TV online.
If the moon does have usable water, TapIt can certainly think of a couple ways to use it. And the water would be great for moon missions to supply drinking water to astronauts or to create rocket fuel by splitting it into oxygen and hydrogen.
Image by dimitri c via stock.xchng
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