Re: LCROSS Mission as a SeeSat satellite imaging opportunity

From: Greg Roberts (grr@telkomsa.net)
Date: Thu Mar 05 2009 - 09:14:19 UTC

  • Next message: Russell Eberst: "2009MAR4-5.OBS"

    Morning Kurt
    
    All noted and I downloaded the issue in question - very well done and 
    interesting.
    
    I had some experience with viewing the Apollo 11 mission ( was clouded out for 
    the
    ill-fated Apollo 13 mission) and was able to track the various bits and pieces 
    associated
    with Apollo 11 out to about 200,000 miles. At the time it was visual 
    observations
    using a 26.5 inch refractor and a 20 inch reflector and they were quite easy 
    targets
    visually once I was able to find them. Today with the IMAGING facilities now
    available one can easily do the same with equipment in the 6 inch aperture 
    region
    ( or possibly even less) but visual observing will require considerably larger.
    
    However I think the chances of observing anything futher out are rapidly 
    diminished by
    the glare from the moon (depending on the phase of the moon) and I would say 
    there
    is very little chance of amateur equipment seeing objects much further out, let 
    alone
    very close to the moon.
    
    Of course observing the trans-lunar trajectory depends very much on predictions 
    being
    available for a particular station. In my case they were supplied by BELLCOM but 
    that
    was a long time ago .
    
    Do you perhaps know if such ephemerii will be available for stations suitable 
    placed
    for viewing such?
    
    I know there were special efforts made to observe some of the Apollo 11 objects
    impacting the moon but cant recall the exact details but I dont think it was a 
    great success.
    
    One big snag for me is that its pretty close to my winter season when I go into 
    hibernation
    because of pathetic viewing conditions!
    
    Best wishes
    Greg
    
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