SpaceX rocket stage to crash into Moon, creating new crater

A rare cosmic event is set to occur on Wednesday as a piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket hurtles toward the Moon. The spent upper stage, launched in January 2025, is expected to impact the lunar surface at seven times the speed of sound, leaving behind a new crater. The collision is predicted to happen on the Earth-facing side of the Moon, near the Einstein crater. The impact, estimated to occur around 6:35 a.m. UTC, will release energy comparable to a three-ton TNT explosion due to the rocket's immense kinetic energy. This impact is not an explosion but a conversion of energy into heat and shock waves, shattering the four-meter-diameter, 12-meter-long stage and ejecting lunar soil. While the initial flash from the impact may be faint and brief, scientists are primarily interested in the subsequent dust cloud. Due to the Moon's weak gravity and lack of atmosphere, this cloud of dust, rock fragments, and metal pieces could remain suspended for several minutes before settling. The event is expected to occur during daylight hours in Israel, making local observation challenging.