SpaceX upper stage to crash into the Moon, possibly creating a fleeting Earth-visible plume

A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage (about 8,000 pounds) is on a collision course with the Moon, hitting near Einstein Crater around 2:35 a.m. EDT on Aug. 5, 2026. The impact itself is unlikely to be visible from Earth, but a brief ejecta plume could rise above the lunar surface and be detectable with large telescopes under favorable conditions. South American observers may have an easier viewing angle, while Danuri in lunar orbit and NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will observe and photograph the site to study crater formation and debris hazards.