The details of the Moon features stated in the roadmap are given further down this page. When you are also taking images, it is useful to take images of the different features along the way, as these can be used for calibration.

Roadmap for Telescope Pointing

To verify pointing to locations on the Sunlit Moon
Tycho CP		Bullialdus central peak (CP). Follow the bright Tycho ray to (RA,DEC) = (North,East) towards terminator
Tycho CP		Dunthorne		Dunthorne D [≥3m telescope]

To go from Sunlit to Earthshine-lit Moon
Dunthorne D		Vitello B		Clausius
Dunthorne D		Vitello B		Lehmann C (if albedo Clausius too low in Earthshine)
Dunthorne D		Vitello B		Drebbel D (if albedo Clausius too low in Earthshine)

To check pointing accuracy in Earth-shine lit Moon
Lehmann C		Drebbel D		Clausius		S1C-R
Lehmann C		Drebbel D		Clausius		Clausius E		S1C-R
Lehmann C		S1C-R

Roadmap and Lunar Phase

The below set of images shows the phase of the Moon at 3 times: one day before impact, at the time of perilune on the forelast orbit and on the nominal impact time. For the same 3 times, a close-up view of the region around the impact site is also given with the features from the above roadmap labelled. Click on image for the high-resolution version.

02-09-2006, 05:42 UT	03-09-2006, 00:38 UT	03-09-2006, 05:42 UT

Calibration

Images: To calibrate images, use mineralogy calibration targets. A list of mineralogy calibration craters is given in the table below. Measurements through various filters are useful (for instance at 400, 450, 500, 550, 750, 900, 950, 1000 nm) or in infrared if you have that possibility.

Spectra: To calibrate spectra, use locations of known or well studied mineralogy.

Location and Description of Moon Features

* Illumination at time of impact: E=Earthshine, S=Sunlight 

Note: in this table NW in Lunar Coordinates equals NE in Right Ascension (+) and Declination (+)

Note: Near S1C-R, a pointing change of 0°W, 0.1°S on the lunar surface equals (RA, DEC)=(0.12" E, 1.0" S)

General Information

When looking at maps, remember that:

• Clementine maps show the S1C-R position, and VLO maps show relative crater locations and names in the region of S1C-R
• Virtual Moon Atlas (VMA/AVL) maps are "as seen" in (RA, DEC) on the sky, lunar coordinates projected onto the sky
• Clementine maps are "as seen" in lunar coordinates, in nadir view. This means a circular crater on a Clementine map may look elongated with a Position Angle≠0 when you observe the Moon
• The Lacus Excellentiae region is illuminated until 20 August, and then after impact from 4 September

Contacts

Bernard H. Foing
ESA SMART-1 Project scientist
Bernard.Foingesa.int

Diane Wooden
NASA Ames Research Centre
Impact observer at Hawaii IRTF

Detlef Koschny
SMART-1 campaign amateur astronomer coordination