В результате чего должно подняться облако пыли, которое возможно будет наблюдать в наземные телескопы. Хотелось бы посмотреть, но возможно ли это будет посредством любительских инструментов?
'Because of gravitational perturbations by the Earth and the Sun, the SMART-1 orbit will irremediably intersect the lunar surface, having exhausted its main Xe fuel. If we would leave the spacecraft on natural course, it would impact on the far side of the Moon on 17 August 2006. We plan to extend the mission at low altitude, and also allow
an impact on the near side, in a dark part near the terminator, under good observations conditions from Earth telescopes and public. From 26 June, we plan to perform for a week a series of new manoeuvers using the hydrazine attitude thrusters to impulse an extra push of some 12 m/s. Only after this is completed successfully, shall we have a better estimate of the date of impact,
now calculated to occur on 3 September 2:00 UT with 7 hour uncertainty.'
Dr. Bernard H. Foing, Chief Scientist, ESA Research and Scientific Support Dept.
Будет ли падение видно любительскими средствами - большой вопрос. Согласно расчетам M.Jutzi, вероятно, нет. Хотя сейчас такие любители (полметра апертуры + видео 0.00.. лк) ...
