SLIM, Small Japanese lunar lander Options

[Phil Stooke]

A bit more on that curious little bright spot adjacent to the SLIM lander:

https://twitter.com/this_is_tckb/status/1785878807557099996

This link goes to a tweet from the same person who posted the SLIM image, but it refers to an OHRC image of Chandrayaan 3. It also shows a small bright spot right next to the Vikram lander. The poster, Chandra, suggests it is Pragyan but it is in the wrong place. ISRO's map and a second map show Pragyan about 33 m northwest of the lander, and I have shown that it is visible at that location casting a shadow in an LRO image. And that same object is casting a long shadow in this new image too so the bright spot certainly is not Pragyan.

So, two OHRC images both showing a very bright lander at low sun and a small bright spot right next to it. I think it is an artifact, perhaps caused by an internal reflection in the camera and showing up because the real image of the lander is so bright.

Phil

[fredk]

An internal reflection should tend to appear along a radial line passing through the bright source and the optical axis (centre of frame). Considering the full frame, is that the case here?

[Phil Stooke]

I don't know where this is in the full frame.

On the SLIM website:

https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/slim/SLIM/gallery/index.html

a caption to this OHRC image notes: "It is unclear what the light spot in the immediate vicinity of SLIM is, but it appears to be about LEV-1 in size."

I had considered that, but I was puzzled by the appearance of a small bright spot adjacent to two different landers in images taken by the same camera. I looked for a common cause but I was probably wrong to do so. The LEV-2 image of the lander doesn't show anything at that location but the position of LEV-2 is not known yet, so LEV-1 might be hiding behind the lander.

Phil

[Hungry4info]

SLIM did not survive the last lunar night. The mission is over.
https://x.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1795310224548798726

[Phil Stooke]

Probably the end but not necessarily:


https://x.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1795310331209904222

"Small lunar landing demonstrator SLIM
@SLIM_JAXA
We plan to try operating it again next month when it is expected that there will be sufficient solar power generation. The power was turned off overnight, so we hope that the whole system will be reset and restarted. #SLIM #JAXA
9:25 PM · May 27, 2024"


Phil

[Phil Stooke]

If that slight chance for SLIM to wake up again is still thought possible, right about now is when it should happen. I expect JAXA will be trying, but no word yet.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

Well, it didn't wake up. But here is a new view of SLIM from LRO on 14 April 2024, at dawn, casting a long shadow. The image number is in the filename if you save it.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

SLIM news:

https://x.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1817867601244221572

https://x.com/SLIM_JAXA/status/1818074276760797255


These two tweets reveal that JAXA tried again on 24 and 25 July to contact SLIM, without success. But they are still trying!

... and that LRO has successfully received laser reflections from SLIM's laser reflector, despite it being in a very tricky orientation.

Phil