Von Karman - a Chang'e-4 site in Jan 2019

The Chinese Chang'e-4 lander is due to land on the far side of the Moon - an unprecedented mission, so fingers crossed.

John Moore

Hi,

Chang'e 4 made a soft landing on the lunar far side this morning (2019 Jan 3 at 02.26 UT). Amazing!
See: www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46724727

Following on from New Horizons exploration of the Edgeworth-Kuiper "snowman" "Ultima-Thule".

Great times in planetary exploration.

John

Yes, wonderful news.
John Moore

Panoramic view
www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?ac...h&type=post&id=44080
 
John Moore

Video of the landing -

As with most panoramas, it's easy to turn them into 'little planets', so thank you CNSA.

Below, the annotations (dots, degrees etc.,) have been added by myself, so as we still don't have definite ID's of features on the horizon, do take them with a 'pinch of salt', as one or two could be way off. Note, the obvious bulge on the southeast of the picture occurs because we're really looking at the rim of von Karman there (the rest of von Karman's rim is really beyond the horizon, from perspective of the Lander's location, as features fall very short-off, and fast, due to the moon's diameter).

 

Btw, Chang'e-4 is now in its sleep mode for the next 14/15 earth days (that is, 14 to 15 nights each lasting 24-hours long, with temps., going down to minus 175 Celsius). Certain equipment and electronics onboard will have to be kept warm, but as the solar panels will no longer be able to use the Sun to provide power for such, other power unit suppliers (e.g. an RTG, as well as other thermal-use equipment, and of course thermal blankets surrounding both the Lander and Rover) will kick-in.

John Moore