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Does a similar high resolution image of the same region before date of impact exist? If so it would significantly strengthen the claim that both craters are due
by DoctorOetker 4y ago
Does a similar high resolution image of the same region before date of impact exist? If so it would significantly strengthen the claim that both craters are due to the same recent impact.
Looking at the density of craters how can we exclude the possibility that one of the craters simply existed before the new one?
What alternative scenarios have been considered and ruled out? It would be nice to see what other explanations were considered but ruled out, and how it was ruled out. For example, did the object hit a lava tunnel? (I don't think so, nor do I see how it could explain a double crater, but I would like to see the thought processes of elimination of hypotheses).
If the conclusion is correct, what was the second mass on the opposite end of the rocket motor? Is it some taboo failed project? A "stillborn" crew capsule?
EDIT: the linked references actually show before and after images:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/nasas-lunar-reconnaissance-orbiter-spots-rocket-impact-site-on-moon https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/nasas-lunar-reconn...
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- stouset 4y ago> Looking at the density of craters how can we exclude the possibility that one of the craters simply existed before the new one? One thing to note is that the density of craters on the moon is a result of a relatively infrequent number of impacts over an astronomically long time. With no process by which impact craters are weathered (wind, seismic activity), craters remain essentially forever.
- DoctorOetker 4y agoThis was exactly why I posed the question, but then later I found the before and after images on the NASA site mentioned in my edit. It would have been nice if the journalists included the before image as well.