On Friday, a wayward rocket stage is due to hit the moon and scientists are preparing to study the impact.

It is expected that the rocket stage will collide with Hertzsprung Crater at 7:25 am EST (1225 GMT) on Friday, March 4.

According to Space.com, the Goldstone Solar System Radar near Barstow, California, will monitor the object.

Similarly, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will look for the effects of the crash on the Moon's exosphere - a thin gaseous layer - and later scan the lunar surface for impact craters.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/artemis-nasas-crewed-mission-delayed-till-2026-458714" hreflang="en">Artemis: NASA's crewed mission delayed till 2026</a>

Bill Gray, an astronomer with Project Pluto, first reported the doomed debris. Gray initially claimed that the debris was from Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket, but later predicted that the object was a leftover piece of a Chinese rocket, specifically a Long March 3C that launched China's Chang'e 5-T1 moon mission.

However, China's foreign ministry rejected the claim.

The tumbling rocket body that is moving at more than 5,500 mph (2.5km per second) will plough into the moon's surface at an angle, scattering debris and creating a crater that will measure 20 to 30 metres in diameter (65&nbsp;to 100ft).

The crash will be similar to those that occurred during the Apollo program when the third stages of Saturn V rockets were intentionally steered into the moon.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-u-turn-scientists-say-black-hole-on-our-cosmic-doorstep-does-not-exist-458308" hreflang="en">In a U-turn, scientists say black hole on our cosmic doorstep does not exist</a>

Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University in Maryland planetary scientist Jeffrey Plescia explained that moon-smacking projectiles are more or less tin cans in both cases.

"The result is that a lot of the energy goes into crushing the projectile rather than excavating the crater," Plescia was quoted as saying to Inside Outer Space.

Plescia noted that Saturn V's third stages formed craters that are shallower than natural craters and have an asymmetric shape, due mostly to low impact angles.

Watch |&nbsp;Report: A rocket launched by Elon Musk's SpaceX in 2015 is all set to hit the Moon in early March

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/report-a-rocket-launched-by-elon-musks-spacex-in-2015-is-all-set-to-hit-the-moon-in-early-march-447831/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He explained that pre-impact images have already been taken by LRO's powerful camera system, so crater depth and other crash characteristics will be more reliably measured for the March 4 crash.

"The only uncertainty at the moment is the orientation of the booster with respect to the trajectory. It is spinning, but whether it is just turning in rotisserie mode or tumbling is not clear," Plescia said. "I would hope the Chinese actually know this and would be forthcoming."

(With inputs from agencies)

On Friday, a wayward rocket stage is due to hit the moon and scientists are preparing to study the impact. It is expected that the rocket stage will collide with Hertzsprung Crater at 7:25 am EST (1225 GMT) on Friday, March 4.

On Friday, a wayward rocket stage is due to hit the moon and scientists are preparing to study the impact. It is expected that the rocket stage will collide with Hertzsprung Crater at 7:25 am EST (1225 GMT) on Friday, March 4. According to Space.com, the Goldstone Solar System Radar near Barstow, California, will monitor the object. Similarly, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will look for the effects of the crash on the Moon's exosphere - a thin gaseous layer - and later scan the lunar surface for impact craters. Also read | Artemis: NASA's crewed mission delayed till 2026 Bill Gray, an astronomer with Project Pluto, first reported the doomed debris. Gray initially claimed that the debris was from Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket, but later predicted that the object was a leftover piece of a Chinese rocket, specifically a Long March 3C that launched China's Chang'e 5-T1 moon mission. However, China's foreign ministry rejected the claim. The tumbling rocket body that is moving at more than 5,500 mph (2.5km per second) will plough into the moon's surface at an angle, scattering debris and creating a crater that will measure 20 to 30 metres in diameter (65 to 100ft). The crash will be similar to those that occurred during the Apollo program when the third stages of Saturn V rockets were intentionally steered into the moon. Also read | In a U-turn, scientists say black hole on our cosmic doorstep does not exist Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University in Maryland planetary scientist Jeffrey Plescia explained that moon-smacking projectiles are more or less tin cans in both cases. "The result is that a lot of the energy goes into crushing the projectile rather than excavating the crater," Plescia was quoted as saying to Inside Outer Space. Plescia noted that Saturn V's third stages formed craters that are shallower than natural craters and have an asymmetric shape, due mostly to low impact angles. Watch | Report: A rocket launched by Elon Musk's SpaceX in 2015 is all set to hit the Moon in early March He explained that pre-impact images have already been taken by LRO's powerful camera system, so crater depth and other crash characteristics will be more reliably measured for the March 4 crash. "The only uncertainty at the moment is the orientation of the booster with respect to the trajectory. It is spinning, but whether it is just turning in rotisserie mode or tumbling is not clear," Plescia said. "I would hope the Chinese actually know this and would be forthcoming." (With inputs from agencies)

Today, space debris will crash into the moon, and scientists don't have any plans to stop it

China's lunar rover Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, that has become the first rover to land on the far side of the moon, is unveiling new lunar secrets, according to a study.&nbsp;

The Chang'e 4 spacecraft landed on Moon on January 2, 2019, becoming the first probe to reach moon's far wide surface that has always turned away from the Earth.&nbsp;

Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-chinas-lunar-rover-change-4-begins-work-shows-moon-landscape-189503">China's lunar rover Chang'e-4 begins work, shows Moon landscape</a>

Jade Rabbit-2 that has completed more than a year on the lunar surface, is revealing new insights about it, as per the study published on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.

The study conducted by a research team led by Li Chunlai and Su Yan at the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) sheds light on what exists below the lunar surface.

The rover found out that the crater is full of loose deposits of pulverized rock and dust, 40 feet thick, similar to what astronauts from Apollo mission discovered.&nbsp;

Jade Rabbit-2 consists of Lunar Penetrating Radar (LPR), through which it could probe the moon using radio signals to a depth of 131 feet beneath lunar surface. Its depth was three times that of China's previous mission, Chang'E-3.

The results from the LPR during the first two lunar days of the operation provide the first electromagnetic image of the subsurface structure of the far side of the Moon and the first "ground truth" of the stratigraphic architecture of an ejecta deposit, said Chunlai.&nbsp;

"The first layer is a fine 12-meter soil layer below the surface. The second layer between 12 and 24 meters under the ground has a lot of stones and the strongest radar echo. It even forms a stone layer and stacks of loose stones. There are three gravel stacks. The third layer is 24-40 meters under the surface. Radar echo shows its dark and bright parts, so there are granules and scattered stones," said Su Yan.&nbsp;

Embedded boulders, in a lot of sizes, were found along with porous, granular material, which is likely caused as the moon was often hit by meteors and other debris during the initial days of our solar system. &nbsp;

Scientists have now been trying to understand the composition of the lunar mantle, which exists between the crust and the core, and when asteroids and other objects collide with the moon, the crust is cracked and pieces of the mantle reach the surface.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Chang'e 4 rover is continuing its probe and the team is working out the possibility of bringing back samples to Earth.&nbsp;

(With Reuters inputs)

China's lunar rover Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, that has become the first rover to land on the far side of the moon, is unveiling new lunar secrets, according to a study.

China's lunar rover Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, that has become the first rover to land on the far side of the moon, is unveiling new lunar secrets, according to a study. The Chang'e 4 spacecraft landed on Moon on January 2, 2019, becoming the first probe to reach moon's far wide surface that has always turned away from the Earth. Watch: China's lunar rover Chang'e-4 begins work, shows Moon landscape Jade Rabbit-2 that has completed more than a year on the lunar surface, is revealing new insights about it, as per the study published on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. The study conducted by a research team led by Li Chunlai and Su Yan at the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) sheds light on what exists below the lunar surface. The rover found out that the crater is full of loose deposits of pulverized rock and dust, 40 feet thick, similar to what astronauts from Apollo mission discovered. Jade Rabbit-2 consists of Lunar Penetrating Radar (LPR), through which it could probe the moon using radio signals to a depth of 131 feet beneath lunar surface. Its depth was three times that of China's previous mission, Chang'E-3. The results from the LPR during the first two lunar days of the operation provide the first electromagnetic image of the subsurface structure of the far side of the Moon and the first "ground truth" of the stratigraphic architecture of an ejecta deposit, said Chunlai. "The first layer is a fine 12-meter soil layer below the surface. The second layer between 12 and 24 meters under the ground has a lot of stones and the strongest radar echo. It even forms a stone layer and stacks of loose stones. There are three gravel stacks. The third layer is 24-40 meters under the surface. Radar echo shows its dark and bright parts, so there are granules and scattered stones," said Su Yan. Embedded boulders, in a lot of sizes, were found along with porous, granular material, which is likely caused as the moon was often hit by meteors and other debris during the initial days of our solar system. Scientists have now been trying to understand the composition of the lunar mantle, which exists between the crust and the core, and when asteroids and other objects collide with the moon, the crust is cracked and pieces of the mantle reach the surface. Meanwhile, Chang'e 4 rover is continuing its probe and the team is working out the possibility of bringing back samples to Earth. (With Reuters inputs)

Chang'e 4 rover reveals new details of the lunar surface

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Today, space debris will crash into the moon, and scientists don't have any plans to stop it

Chang'e 4 rover reveals new details of the lunar surface