Is Apollo 11's Lunar Module Still In Orbit Around The Moon 52 Years Later?

[Sean C]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Unfortunately, no. No terrestrial telescope can see even the much larger decent modules. First the atmosphere mucks up the resolution. Second would be the aperture needed.



Even the Hubble 94.5-inch mirror outside of the atmosphere can only detect objects about 300 feet wide at the distance to the moon.


The largest dimension of the Ascent Model is just over 14 feet.

Yes, you can clearly see the effect of the atmosphere in my videos. I am certain one could not make out any module-sized objects on the surface. If my math is correct, an object that size - even at the Moon's perigee - would have an apparent angular size of 0.0024 arc seconds.



But, I still wonder if one could detect the movement of an object that size if it is in orbit around the Moon. Probably not, I suppose - for the same reasons. Oh, well.

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Sean C

Yes, you can clearly see the effect of the atmosphere in my videos. I am certain one could not make out any module-sized objects on the surface. If my math is correct, an object that size - even at the Moon's perigee - would have an apparent angular size of 0.0024 arc seconds.



But, I still wonder if one could detect the movement of an object that size if it is in orbit around the Moon. Probably not, I suppose - for the same reasons. Oh, well.

I would think you would have to ask the Chinese. Robotic landers may have landed on the moon human's I don't believe so the whole thing was about breaking the soviet union.And the soviet's let the american government pull the hoax off. Have the soviets gone past low earth orbit? all these years who are the real fool's. Today if you can afford it you certainly be a space tourist look Captain Kirk will be going up in a couple month's. And that' is about as far as human's can go.

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Gorpet

I would think you would have to ask the Chinese. Robotic landers may have landed on the moon human's I don't believe so the whole thing was about breaking the soviet union.And the soviet's let the american government pull the hoax off. Have the soviets gone past low earth orbit? all these years who are the real fool's. Today if you can afford it you certainly be a space tourist look Captain Kirk will be going up in a couple month's. And that' is about as far as human's can go.

And if it really was possible why didn't we , instead of killing one another build a moon base? Now today it's all about saving earth all the sudden cause the Chinese Have released the first shot. Bio warfare I have a question why do all the old that are in power are still alive. How come none of them or their family' have died? Do they have different DNA ? Or do they the one's who created this have a cure. i want to hear on the news how many of their family member's are dying. My family is dying 25 to the Grand parent's , And i want those who created this virus to pay. Sorry i went completely off the rocker. In don't want to see another millionaire or billionaire floating in space .

[Arlo]

Originally Posted by Gorpet

Sorry i went completely off the rocker.

*ShruG* It's ok. Kinda used to it.

[iambecomelife]

Semi Off Topic: an article about part of the Saturn V stage for Apollo 12, which is still in orbit after many years. It's huge, even though it's just part of the whole rocket.

Interesting thing is, it orbits both Earth AND the Sun. It reappears circling Earth at 40 year intervals. Its last visit to Earth ended in 2003. I didn't even know that an object have a dual orbit like that! Basically, Earth and the Sun pass it between each other .. eventually it may collide with the moon or Earth, but potential damage is low.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J002E3

[Platapus]

Well all earth satellites orbit the sun.



But the unstable orbit of J002E3 is quite interesting. We are still not 100% positive what it is, but the Saturn Booster idea seems reasonable.



Because it passes inside the orbit of our moon, its orbit processes to the point where its apogee is beyond the first Lagrange point so it then transitions to a heliocentric orbit.


It seems to follow a pattern of six highly elliptical earth orbits and one very high solar orbit and then back for six. Weird.