Jordanian Astronomical Society: Three astronomical observatories, one of which is Arab, films the Chinese probe as it returns from the moon

Weather of Arabia - M. said. Muhammad Odeh, member of the Jordanian Astronomical Society and Director of the International Astronomy Center, said that the Seal Astronomical Observatory located in the Abu Dhabi desert was able last night, Saturday , June 22, 2024, to photograph the Chinese probe (Chang’e 6) during its return journey from the moon towards Earth.

The first observatory that was able to photograph the probe was the “Southern Observatory for Near-Earth Asteroid Research” located in Brazil, and then the Seal Observatory was the second observatory in the world that was able to photograph the probe, and about an hour after the UAE observation, a third observatory in Namibia was able to photograph the probe. Also, through the three observations, it was possible to accurately determine the probe’s orbit.

It is noteworthy that this probe is part of a Chinese program to explore the moon, which aims to visit the moon and bring samples of lunar soil to Earth for analysis. The probe launched from Earth on May 3rd, and landed on the surface of the moon on June 1st, after drilling into the lunar soil. To obtain samples from it, it launched back toward Earth on June 3, and is expected to arrive at Earth on June 25.

The image of the probe taken from the Al Khatam Astronomical Observatory and it appears as a point between the stars that appear in the form of lines.

Part of the correspondence and scientific analysis of meteorological results

Image of the probe

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Sources:

Jordanian Astronomical Society

Monitoring and photography team:
Sameh Al-Ashi and Muhammad Odeh
Chinese Chang'e-6