The landing attempt for ispace's Resilience lander is scheduled for today, June 5, 2025. The primary landing target is Mare Frigoris, or the "Sea of Cold," on the near side of the moon's northern hemisphere. The exact time is subject to change based on operational conditions, but as of recent updates, it's targeted for 3:17 p.m. EDT (1917 GMT), which is 4:17 a.m. Japan Standard Time on Friday, June 6, 2025.
While you won't be able to see the Resilience lander itself from Earth, as it's far too small, you can definitely try to spot its approximate landing zone!
Here's how to see the landing zone on the lunar surface:
- When to look: In the nights surrounding June 5th, look towards the southeastern sky after sunset. The moon will be visible and continue to rise higher.
- What you'll need:
- Binoculars: A pair of 10x50 binoculars will help you locate the slender, darker region of Mare Frigoris in the moon's northern area.
- Telescope: To resolve finer details and get closer to the landing site, a telescope with an aperture of 6 inches or more is recommended.
- How to find Mare Frigoris and the landing site:
- Locate Mare Frigoris: This "Sea of Cold" is a vast, relatively smooth basaltic plain. It will appear as a darker area in the northern part of the moon.
- Find reference craters: A good starting point is the Aristoteles Crater, which is situated above Mare Serenitatis on the southeastern shore of Mare Frigoris.
- Navigate to the landing zone: From Aristoteles, look to the northwest to find the Archytas Crater on the southern shore of Mare Frigoris. Beyond Archytas, you'll find the similarly-sized Timaeus Crater.
- Pinpoint the landing area: The Resilience lander is aiming to touch down in the area below Timaeus, to the left of Archytas. This area will be fairly close to the terminator, the line dividing the lunar day and night. The precise coordinates are approximately 60.5 degrees North latitude and 4.6 degrees West longitude.
Important Notes:
- Live Stream: ispace is hosting a global live stream of the landing attempt. You can usually find links on their official website (ispace-inc.com) or major space news outlets like Space.com. The coverage will be broadcast in Japanese with English translation.
- Backup Sites: ispace has identified three backup landing sites, all within the Sea of Cold. If they need to use a backup, the landing would occur on a different day and time. Keep an eye on official announcements from ispace for any changes to the schedule.
Good luck with your lunar observations! It's a fascinating time for lunar exploration.