How To Watch SpaceX's Rocket Crash Into The Moon Tonight

Most people won't see the impact itself, but astronomers say some skywatchers could catch the aftermath with a telescope.

By Scott Snowden, Patch Staff

Aug 4, 2026 4:33 PM PDT

HAWTHORNE, CA — A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is expected to crash into the moon late Tuesday night, and while the event won't produce a dramatic naked-eye spectacle, it could offer telescope owners a rare chance to witness the aftermath of a human-made impact on another world.

Scientists currently predict the rocket stage will strike the lunar surface at about 11:35 p.m. PDT Tuesday at roughly 5,400 mph, creating a new crater and blasting dust and debris high above the moon's surface.

For most people, however, the collision will be over almost as soon as it begins.

The impact flash is expected to last less than a second and will probably be too faint to see from Earth, according to researchers. The better chance for observers comes moments later, when the cloud of ejected lunar material could rise above the moon's limb and remain visible through telescopes for several minutes.

There's no guarantee the plume will be bright enough to spot. Scientists say its visibility will depend on how much material is thrown into space, the angle of the impact and viewing conditions at the time.

Skywatchers hoping to catch the event should look for a location with a clear view of the moon and cloud-free skies. While binoculars are unlikely to reveal the impact, astronomers say moderate- to large-aperture telescopes offer the best chance of detecting the expanding dust plume.

The impact is expected to occur near Einstein Crater on the moon's western limb. Scientists say the collision poses no threat to Earth but will provide valuable data on how impacts affect the lunar surface and the potential hazards they could pose to future robotic missions and astronauts.

Professional observatories will also be watching. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has been mapping the moon since 2009, and South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter are expected to capture before-and-after images of the impact site.

The upper stage launched Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander and ispace's Resilience lunar lander from Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 15, 2025. After completing its mission, the spent rocket stage remained in space and is now expected to make an unplanned impact with the moon more than a year later.