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A piece of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket could collide with the Moon on August 5, according to calculations by astronomers and NASA scientists.
It is the upper stage of a rocket that was launched in January 2025 during a mission to the Moon. According to American astronomer Bill Gray, the object has remained in space and its trajectory indicates that it could accidentally hit the lunar surface.
According to the Space.com portal, in early July, experts from NASA's Solar System Exploration Virtual Research Institute (SSERVI) held a discussion on this scenario and its possible consequences.
"The Moon is a dynamic environment," said lunar observer Brian Day, noting that collisions and changes to its surface occur constantly.
One of the issues being discussed is whether the impact will be visible from Earth. Experts do not rule out the possibility that the dust cloud created by the collision will be illuminated by the Sun, but NASA remains skeptical.
"I think it will be very, very difficult to see, if not impossible," said William Cooke, a manager at NASA.
The upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket weighs about four tons and currently moves at a speed of over two kilometers per second.
Bill Gray, creator of the astronomy program Guide, was the first to publish calculations for the possible collision, while his predictions show August 5, 2026 as the most likely moment of impact.
Scientists emphasize that the collision poses no danger to Earth, but consider it another example of the problems associated with the increase in space debris.
A similar incident occurred four years ago when a space object crashed into the Moon. At the time, NASA suspected it was part of a Chinese rocket, a claim denied by Chinese authorities.
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