"Pseudo-MPEC" for LCROSS
Created Tue Jul 28 08:15:53 2009 using Find_Orb
This gives data and elements for the first part of the LCROSS mission, from launch to 21 July 2009, before the maneuver that put the object on a lunar impact trajectory. Click here for information about the late July to impact trajectory.
Elements for the current epoch, and for epochs near launch, the first lunar flyby, and the impact pass on 2009 October 9 are shown below. According to this NASA site, "Projected lunar impact is on October 9, 2009 at 11:30 UT (7:30 a.m. EDT, 4:30 a.m. PDT), +/- 30 minutes." The current orbit shows a perilune at 22:00 UT, plus or minus about a minute, and at 16216 km, plus or minus about 50 km; but that's before the maneuver took place.
Amusingly, Find_Orb decides that near the time of launch, LCROSS must be an incoming, impacting object, and gives you the lat/lon and time before perigee when it would "hit" the earth. Ideally, instead of looking at the object about seven minutes before perigee (inside the earth), it would have figured out where it would be seven minutes after perigee, at launch. (Or where it would be if it were launched, Jules Verne-like, from a cannon.) It would then get a point near Cape Canaveral, with an error (right now) of about one degree in longitude (basically just corresponding to uncertainty in launch time). But since I'm normally more interested in rocks coming down than in spacecraft going up, I'll probably just leave it the way it is.
Astrometry
Observing stations
Orbital elements
Residuals
Ephemeris
Astrometry:
LCROSS C2009 07 02.28766 14 40 31.70 +27 31 09.2 16.3 V D0252F85
LCROSS C2009 07 02.29543 14 40 36.02 +27 28 38.9 16.3 V D0252F85
LCROSS C2009 07 02.30302 14 40 40.30 +27 26 11.7 16.3 V D0252F85
LCROSS C2009 07 02.31063 14 40 44.73 +27 23 41.2 16.3 V D0252F85
LCROSS C2009 07 02.31832 14 40 49.41 +27 21 05.7 16.3 V D0252F85
LCROSS C2009 07 03.95705 15 20 48.20 +18 42 51.0 D0260204
LCROSS C2009 07 03.95781 15 20 48.83 +18 42 36.0 D0260204
LCROSS C2009 07 03.95858 15 20 49.46 +18 42 21.0 D0260204
LCROSS C2009 07 03.95934 15 20 50.08 +18 42 06.1 15.8 C D0260204
LCROSS C2009 07 03.96010 15 20 50.71 +18 41 51.0 D0260204
LCROSS C2009 07 03.99394 15 21 42.71 +18 28 48.4 15.7 R D0253J95
LCROSS C2009 07 03.99601 15 21 44.55 +18 28 08.3 15.6 R D0253J95
LCROSS C2009 07 03.99804 15 21 46.38 +18 27 28.8 15.7 R D0253J95
LCROSS C2009 07 04.00009 15 21 48.23 +18 26 48.9 15.7 R D0253J95
LCROSS C2009 07 04.34865 15 29 35.96 +17 33 56.4 15.6 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.35089 15 29 36.82 +17 33 13.1 16.0 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.35273 15 29 37.54 +17 32 38.2 15.8 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.35587 15 29 38.81 +17 31 37.5 16.5 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.35682 15 29 39.24 +17 31 20.8 x16.2 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.36091 15 29 40.93 +17 29 59.8 16.2 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.36625 15 29 43.22 +17 28 16.2 15.6 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.37075 15 29 45.29 +17 26 48.2 16.3 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.37321 15 29 46.42 +17 25 59.8 16.5 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.37485 15 29 47.18 +17 25 27.1 16.1 V D0255F84
LCROSS C2009 07 04.92271 15 42 14.02 +14 05 09.6 15.5 R D0254J95
LCROSS C2009 07 04.92482 15 42 15.34 +14 04 32.0 15.6 R D0254J95
LCROSS C2009 07 04.92715 15 42 16.79 +14 03 50.6 15.6 R D0254J95
LCROSS C2009 07 05.29857 15 50 10.53 +13 03 08.7 15.7 V D0256F85
LCROSS C2009 07 05.30602 15 50 12.27 +13 00 59.4 15.7 V D0256F85
LCROSS C2009 07 05.31387 15 50 14.13 +12 58 42.1 15.6 V D0256F85
LCROSS C2009 07 05.32084 15 50 15.84 +12 56 39.2 15.8 V D0256F85
LCROSS C2009 07 05.32685 15 50 17.39 +12 54 52.8 15.7 V D0256F85
LCROSS C2009 07 05.33332 15 50 19.07 +12 52 57.1 15.9 V D0256F85
LCROSS C2009 07 05.34028 15 50 20.93 +12 50 52.6 15.9 V D0256F85
LCROSS C2009 07 05.93094 16 02 10.85 +09 19 43.7 15.5 R D0257J95
LCROSS C2009 07 05.93349 16 02 12.28 +09 18 59.6 15.6 R D0257J95
LCROSS C2009 07 05.93554 16 02 13.43 +09 18 24.1 15.6 R D0257J95
LCROSS C2009 07 06.27340 16 09 33.87 +08 27 07.0 15.7 V D0258F85
LCROSS C2009 07 06.27406 16 09 33.99 +08 26 55.9 15.6 V D0258F85
LCROSS C2009 07 06.28142 16 09 35.47 +08 24 53.5 16.2 V D0258F85
LCROSS C2009 07 06.28419 16 09 36.02 +08 24 07.5 15.6 V D0258F85
LCROSS C2009 07 06.28745 16 09 36.66 +08 23 13.0 15.8 V D0258F85
LCROSS C2009 07 06.29482 16 09 38.09 +08 21 09.4 15.6 V D0258F85
LCROSS C2009 07 06.29617 16 09 38.35 +08 20 46.5 15.5 V D0258F85
LCROSS C2009 07 09.29231 17 04 24.13 -05 27 55.0 15.8 V D0259F84
LCROSS C2009 07 09.29313 17 04 24.27 -05 28 08.5 15.5 V D0259F84
LCROSS C2009 07 09.31793 17 04 28.72 -05 34 58.4 15.8 V D0259F84
LCROSS C2009 07 09.31916 17 04 28.99 -05 35 18.9 15.9 V D0259F84
LCROSS C2009 07 12.13846 17 57 59.89 -18 39 32.7 x15.9 R D0261H36
LCROSS C2009 07 12.13914 17 58 00.34 -18 39 44.7 16.3 R D0261H36
LCROSS C2009 07 12.14075 17 58 01.14 -18 40 11.0 15.8 R D0261H36
LCROSS C2009 07 12.14780 17 58 04.54 -18 42 11.2 15.4 R D0261H36
LCROSS C2009 07 12.15010 17 58 05.63 -18 42 50.1 15.1 R D0261H36
LCROSS C2009 07 12.51384 18 02 35.03 -19 41 43.0 15.9 V D0262F84
LCROSS C2009 07 12.51973 18 02 39.03 -19 42 52.4 16.0 V D0262F84
LCROSS C2009 07 12.52550 18 02 43.13 -19 43 59.9 16.0 V D0262F84
LCROSS C2009 07 12.53082 18 02 47.11 -19 45 01.1 15.9 V D0262F84
LCROSS C2009 07 12.53633 18 02 51.37 -19 46 04.1 16.1 V D0262F84
LCROSS C2009 07 12.91762 18 13 09.25 -22 04 05.4 15.2 C D0263204
LCROSS C2009 07 12.91822 18 13 09.57 -22 04 14.9 D0263204
LCROSS C2009 07 12.91961 18 13 10.34 -22 04 36.1 D0263204
LCROSS C2009 07 12.92023 18 13 10.67 -22 04 45.5 D0263204
LCROSS C2009 07 12.92084 18 13 11.00 -22 04 55.4 D0263204
LCROSS C2009 07 14.46873 18 46 21.02 -28 00 41.5 15.7 V D0265F85
LCROSS C2009 07 14.47564 18 46 24.72 -28 02 00.3 15.8 V D0265F85
LCROSS C2009 07 14.48479 18 46 29.95 -28 03 41.9 15.8 V D0265F85
LCROSS C2009 07 14.48985 18 46 32.98 -28 04 37.0 15.3 V D0265F85
LCROSS C2009 07 15.47793 19 11 46.89 -32 02 53.4 15.5 V D0266F85
LCROSS C2009 07 15.48254 19 11 49.73 -32 03 41.4 15.5 V D0266F85
LCROSS C2009 07 15.48481 19 11 51.19 -32 04 04.7 15.7 V D0266F85
LCROSS C2009 07 15.48717 19 11 52.71 -32 04 28.5 15.4 V D0266F85
LCROSS C2009 07 16.42793 19 39 32.28 -35 39 25.9 16.3 V D0266F85
LCROSS C2009 07 16.42913 19 39 33.05 -35 39 41.1 15.8 V D0266F85
LCROSS C2009 07 16.43052 19 39 33.90 -35 39 58.4 15.9 V D0266F85
LCROSS C2009 07 16.43165 19 39 34.59 -35 40 11.9 15.8 V D0266F85
LCROSS C2009 07 16.43279 19 39 35.30 -35 40 26.2 15.7 V D0266F85
LCROSS C2009 07 17.44155 20 11 29.49 -39 07 13.4 14.8 V D0266F84
LCROSS C2009 07 17.44262 20 11 30.31 -39 07 25.8 15.3 V D0266F84
LCROSS C2009 07 17.44371 20 11 31.12 -39 07 38.0 15.7 V D0266F84
LCROSS C2009 07 17.44478 20 11 32.01 -39 07 49.6 15.1 V D0266F84
LCROSS C2009 07 17.44588 20 11 32.81 -39 08 01.9 14.8 V D0266F84
LCROSS C2009 07 17.44695 20 11 33.65 -39 08 13.6 15.4 V D0266F84
LCROSS C2009 07 19.36351 21 26 16.76 -44 00 33.7 16.1 V D0267F85
LCROSS C2009 07 19.36471 21 26 18.64 -44 00 50.2 15.5 V D0267F85
LCROSS C2009 07 19.36699 21 26 22.04 -44 01 22.2 15.4 V D0267F85
LCROSS C2009 07 21.53309 23 03 39.06 -45 45 32.2 16.0 V D0268F85
LCROSS C2009 07 21.53429 23 03 40.85 -45 45 30.4 15.6 V D0268F85
LCROSS C2009 07 21.53544 23 03 42.50 -45 45 28.6 16.5 V D0268F85
LCROSS C2009 07 21.53658 23 03 44.15 -45 45 27.6 15.9 V D0268F85
LCROSS C2009 07 22.39253 23 49 15.02 -44 16 23.6 x15.1 V D0269F85
LCROSS C2009 07 22.39374 23 49 17.75 -44 16 27.0 x16.0 V D0269F85
LCROSS C2009 07 22.39493 23 49 20.52 -44 16 30.4 x15.4 V D0269F85
LCROSS C2009 07 22.39608 23 49 23.21 -44 16 33.6 x15.3 V D0269F85
LCROSS C2009 07 22.39738 23 49 26.30 -44 16 37.3 x15.6 V D0269F85
LCROSS C2009 07 22.70781 00 02 02.07 -43 40 12.0 x15.5 V D0269E12
LCROSS C2009 07 22.70812 00 02 02.58 -43 40 10.0 x15.5 V D0269E12
LCROSS C2009 07 22.70841 00 02 03.04 -43 40 07.8 x15.4 V D0269E12
LCROSS C2009 07 23.48510 00 41 23.84 -41 20 30.5 x15.5 V D0270F84
LCROSS C2009 07 23.48672 00 41 26.72 -41 20 21.7 x15.4 V D0270F84
LCROSS C2009 07 23.48779 00 41 28.63 -41 20 15.7 x15.5 V D0270F84
LCROSS C2009 07 23.49003 00 41 32.57 -41 20 03.3 x15.4 V D0270F84
LCROSS C2009 07 23.49110 00 41 34.46 -41 19 56.8 x15.6 V D0270F84
LCROSS C2009 07 25.63233 02 15 46.13 -30 12 24.7 x15.9 V D0271F85
LCROSS C2009 07 25.63660 02 15 50.95 -30 10 47.6 x15.7 V D0271F85
LCROSS C2009 07 25.64063 02 15 55.52 -30 09 15.5 x15.8 V D0271F85
LCROSS C2009 07 25.64535 02 16 00.81 -30 07 26.7 x15.5 V D0271F85
LCROSS C2009 07 26.59644 02 56 28.50 -22 57 23.0 x15.9 V D0272F85
LCROSS C2009 07 26.59865 02 56 31.30 -22 56 27.7 x16.5 V D0272F85
LCROSS C2009 07 26.60084 02 56 34.02 -22 55 33.1 x15.9 V D0272F85
LCROSS C2009 07 26.60301 02 56 36.70 -22 54 38.5 x16.0 V D0272F85
LCROSS C2009 07 26.60530 02 56 39.52 -22 53 40.4 x15.9 V D0272F85
Station data:
(204) Schiaparelli Observatory (N45.8680 E8.7708). Observer L. Buzzi.
0.38-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD.
(E12) Siding Spring Survey (S31.2735 E149.0642). Observers E. J.
Christensen, G. J. Garradd, D. M. Burton, R. H. McNaught. Measurers E. C.
Beshore, C. M. Casey, E. J. Christensen, G. J. Garradd, A. D. Grauer, R. E.
Hill, S. M. Larson, R. H. McNaught, A. R. Gibbs, R. A. Kowalski. 0.5-m
Uppsala Schmidt + CCD.
(F84) Hibiscus Observatory, Punaauia (S17.6341 W149.6158). Observers N.
Teamo, S. F. Hönig. Measurers S. F. Hoenig, J. C. Pelle, N. Teamo.
0.35-m f/2.0 Schmidt + 1392x1040 CCD.
(F85) Tiki Observatory, Punaauia (S17.6341 W149.6158). Observer N. Teamo.
0.41-m f/8.0 Ritchey-Chretien + 3056x3056 CCD.
(H36) Sandlot Observatory, Scranton (N38.7977 W95.7064). Observer G. Hug.
0.56-m reflector + CCD.
(J95) Great Shefford (N51.47497 W1.44700). Observer P. Birtwhistle. 0.40-m
f/6.0 Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD.
Orbital elements (mid-course):
LCROSS
Perigee 2009 Jun 21.251411 TT = 6:02:01 (JD 2455003.751411)
Epoch 2009 Jul 6.0 TT; AMR 0.019515 m2/kg Find_Orb
M 138.80251 (2000.0) P Q
n 9.41124074 Peri. 14.48198 0.15943479 -0.72336214
a479555.544km Node 70.41139 0.81991373 -0.28199465
e 0.2158220 Incl. 45.48601 0.54983817 0.63025885
P 38.25d H 26.4 G 0.15 q 376056.872km Q 583054.216km
From 87 observations 2009 July 2-21; RMS error 0.557 arcseconds
Orbital elements (near launch):
LCROSS
Perigee 2009 Jun 18.929489 TT = 22:18:27 (JD 2455001.429489)
Epoch 2009 Jun 18.93 TT; AMR 0.019515 m^2/kg Find_Orb
M 0.02011 (2000.0) P Q
n 39.39071909 Peri. 235.82410 0.21446893 0.90680143
a184646.423km Node 50.96924 -0.66922891 0.40707241
e 0.9652834 Incl. 27.85267 -0.71143216 -0.10955913
P 9.14d H 26.4 G 0.15 q 6410.28214km Q 362882.564km
From 87 observations 2009 July 2-21; RMS error 0.557 arcseconds
Orbital elements (near first lunar flyby):
LCROSS
Perilune 2009 Jun 23.438505 TT = 10:31:26 (JD 2455005.938505)
Epoch 2009 Jun 23.44 TT; AMR 0.019515 m^2/kg Find_Orb
q 5005.60645km (2000.0) P Q
H 26.4 G 0.15 Peri. 313.44814 0.69038044 -0.70829157
Node 8.50974 0.31795855 0.11417762
e 1.8359978 Incl. 84.52309 -0.64982859 -0.69662508
Orbital elements (near lunar impact):
LCROSS
Perilune 2009 Oct 9.916923 TT = 22:00:22 (JD 2455114.416923)
Epoch 2009 Oct 9.9 TT; AMR 0.019515 m^2/kg Find_Orb
q 16215.7593km (2000.0) P Q
H 26.4 G 0.15 Peri. 7.62699 0.98904547 0.12156306
Node 355.15698 -0.11364034 0.26503053
e 3.1935400 Incl. 82.66283 0.09420685 -0.95654651
From 87 observations 2009 July 2-21; RMS error 0.557 arcseconds
Residuals in arcseconds:
090702 F85 .48- .17- 090706 F85 .43+ .06- 090716 F85 .18+ .42-
090702 F85 .09- 1.2- 090706 F85 .20+ .24- 090716 F85 .29+ .79-
090702 F85 .46- .25- 090706 F85 .20+ .47- 090717 F84 .24- .07-
090702 F85 .77- .12+ 090706 F85 .24+ .31- 090717 F84 .25- .50-
090702 F85 .43- .64- 090706 F85 .27+ .36- 090717 F84 .57- .58-
090703 204 .20- .17+ 090706 F85 .30+ .37- 090717 F84 .21+ .34-
090703 204 .06- .09+ 090706 F85 .30+ .56- 090717 F84 .32- .55-
090703 204 .06- .21+ 090709 F84 .38+ .78+ 090717 F84 .13- .55-
090703 204 .12- .25+ 090709 F84 .12+ .89+ 090719 F85 .09- .25-
090703 204 .06- .09+ 090709 F84 .23+ .17+ 090719 F85 .65+ .17-
090703 J95 .01- .05- 090709 F84 1.1+ .16- 090719 F85 .46+ .85-
090703 J95 .14- .09+ 090712 H36( 1.9- .40-) 090721 F85 .60- .44+
090703 J95 .08- .10+ 090712 H36 .21- .75- 090721 F85 .01- .72+
090704 J95 .18- .14+ 090712 H36 .05- .51+ 090721 F85 .11- .95+
090704 F84 .26+ .25+ 090712 H36 .03+ .35+ 090721 F85 .06- .30+
090704 F84 .01- .18- 090712 H36 .07+ .39+ 090722 F85( 205- 619+)
090704 F84 .18- .22+ 090712 F84 .62+ 1.2+ 090722 F85( 206- 620+)
090704 F84 .21- .06- 090712 F84 .09+ .82+ 090722 F85( 206- 621+)
090704 F84( .36+ 1.6+) 090712 F84 .31- .39+ 090722 F85( 206- 622+)
090704 F84 .03+ .33- 090712 F84 .03- .56+ 090722 F85( 205- 623+)
090704 F84 .34- .10- 090712 F84 .05- .66+ 090722 E12( 321- 851+)
090704 F84 .30+ .13- 090712 204 .15- .37+ 090722 E12( 321- 851+)
090704 F84 .20+ .27- 090712 204 .26- .22+ 090722 E12( 322- 852+)
090704 F84 .07+ .72- 090712 204 .10- .64+ 090723 F84( 720- 1363+)
090704 J95 .00 .10+ 090712 204 .22- .88+ 090723 F84( 721- 1364+)
090704 J95 .08+ .05+ 090712 204 .26- .44+ 090723 F84( 721- 1364+)
090704 J95 .03- .18+ 090714 F85 .21- .31+ 090723 F84( 723- 1366+)
090705 F85 .31+ .15- 090714 F85 .44- .01- 090723 F84( 723- 1367+)
090705 F85 .32+ .23- 090714 F85 .12+ .31- 090725 F85(2252- 2425+)
090705 F85 .13+ .21- 090714 F85 .42+ .64- 090725 F85(2255- 2427+)
090705 F85 .11+ .20- 090715 F85 .02- .47- 090725 F85(2258- 2429+)
090705 F85 .51+ .10+ 090715 F85 .39- .44- 090725 F85(2261- 2431+)
090705 F85 .25+ .02+ 090715 F85 .13- .41- 090726 F85(2972- 2703+)
090705 F85 .41- .73+ 090715 F85 .09- .19- 090726 F85(2974- 2704+)
090705 J95 .18+ .22+ 090716 F85 .16- .36- 090726 F85(2976- 2705+)
090705 J95 .14+ .28+ 090716 F85 .27+ .66- 090726 F85(2977- 2706+)
090705 J95 .03+ .33+ 090716 F85 .23+ .80- 090726 F85(2979- 2707+)
Ephemerides:
Date (UT) RA Dec delta r elong mag
---- -- -- ------------ ------------ ------ ------ ----- ---
2009 06 20 06 00 02.878 +18 27 33.52 206060 1.0148 5.1 37.8
2009 06 21 06 22 29.461 +20 28 16.14 288492 1.0143 6.3 35.4
2009 06 22 06 36 08.477 +21 40 52.74 335097 1.0141 7.9 32.7
2009 06 23 06 45 25.023 +22 47 09.11 355549 1.0140 8.9 31.5
2009 06 24 07 13 52.480 +31 04 58.63 363777 1.0141 15.9 26.0
2009 06 25 08 18 42.764 +39 12 58.69 378262 1.0143 30.6 21.7
2009 06 26 09 29 52.480 +43 56 41.20 396354 1.0146 43.9 19.9
2009 06 27 10 41 09.888 +45 27 19.82 416642 1.0150 55.9 18.8
2009 06 28 11 45 51.762 +44 20 56.01 437871 1.0154 66.7 18.1
2009 06 29 12 40 33.631 +41 27 60.00 459044 1.0159 76.4 17.7
2009 06 30 13 25 27.040 +37 32 52.44 479419 1.0164 85.2 17.3
2009 07 01 14 02 21.050 +33 05 39.57 498471 1.0168 93.2 17.1
2009 07 02 14 33 14.725 +28 24 05.19 515840 1.0173 100.7 16.9
2009 07 03 14 59 46.230 +23 37 44.79 531295 1.0177 107.6 16.7
2009 07 04 15 23 09.717 +18 51 28.04 544700 1.0182 114.0 16.6
2009 07 05 15 44 20.174 +14 07 27.05 555991 1.0185 120.2 16.4
2009 07 06 16 03 58.933 +09 26 31.55 565158 1.0189 126.1 16.3
2009 07 07 16 22 38.002 +04 48 51.77 572236 1.0192 131.8 16.1
2009 07 08 16 40 43.208 +00 14 22.19 577290 1.0195 137.4 16.0
2009 07 09 16 58 36.495 -04 17 05.44 580404 1.0197 142.8 15.9
2009 07 10 17 16 37.732 -08 45 34.14 581677 1.0199 148.1 15.7
2009 07 11 17 35 06.199 -13 10 55.10 581208 1.0201 153.3 15.6
2009 07 12 17 54 21.893 -17 32 40.41 579097 1.0201 158.2 15.4
2009 07 13 18 14 46.706 -21 49 54.14 575440 1.0202 162.7 15.3
2009 07 14 18 36 45.506 -26 01 01.02 570324 1.0202 166.4 15.1
2009 07 15 19 00 47.050 -30 03 31.27 563830 1.0201 168.2 15.0
2009 07 16 19 27 24.411 -33 53 40.71 556032 1.0200 167.1 15.0
2009 07 17 19 57 14.191 -37 26 05.66 546990 1.0199 163.6 15.1
2009 07 18 20 30 53.149 -40 33 14.99 536760 1.0196 158.6 15.2
2009 07 19 21 08 50.278 -43 05 08.17 525386 1.0194 152.8 15.4
2009 07 20 21 51 12.984 -44 49 18.43 512909 1.0190 146.4 15.5
2009 07 21 22 37 30.096 -45 31 49.19 499370 1.0186 139.4 15.6
2009 07 22 23 26 22.517 -44 59 19.14 484827 1.0182 132.0 15.8
2009 07 23 00 15 56.098 -43 01 41.80 469373 1.0177 124.1 15.9