SMART-1 impact site - updated impact time

This mosaic of images, obtained by the Advanced Moon Imaging Experiment (AMIE) on board ESA's SMART-1 spacecraft, shows the SMART-1 landing site on the Moon, with a new indication of the impact time as calculated after the last orbit correction manoeuvre on 1 September 2006.

AMIE obtained the image sequence on 19 August 2006 from the relatively high distance of 1200 kilometres from the surface (far from the SMART-1 perilune, or point of closer approach), with a ground resolution of about 120 metres per pixel. The imaged area, located at mid-southern latitudes on the lunar near-side, belongs to the so-called 'Lake of Excellence'.

To take these images, SMART-1 had to be tilted by 20 degrees in order to obtain a large ground coverage and an image mosaic of several views, each covering an area about 60 kilometres per side.

SMART-1's impact is now expected on 3 September 2006 at 07:42 CEST (05:42 UT), at 46.2º West longitude and 34.2º South latitude, but it could take place one orbit earlier, at 02:38 CEST (00:38 UT), if an unknown peak is in SMART-1's way.