six frames, each showing the Moon's cratered surface more closely
Image Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech
Published: October 9, 2017

Ranger 9 was launched March 21, 1965 and reached the Moon on March 24, 1965. It impacted the Moon in the crater Alphonsus, located at 12.8°S, 357.6°E. Ranger 9 was the last of the Ranger series. Rangers 7, 8, and 9 were successful missions to intentionally impact the Moon while taking photos on the way down. The pictures shown here document Ranger 9's descent toward Alphonsus Crater--the image at upper left shows Alphonsus Crater, the image at lower right shows the last image received before impact. The white circle in each frame indicates the impact site.

ENLARGE

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