When will the loons start to claim that Chang’e 3 is a hoax?

[Obviousman]

<HB Mode ON>
Of course it's faked. The US and Russia, however, won't blow the whistle because China didn't blow the whilstle they faked their missions; if they did point out it was faked, China would do the same to them. Since none of them want to lose face, they keep silent about each others fakery.
<HB Mode OFF>

[LunarOrbit]

Did it land close enough to any of the Apollo sites that the rover could pay them a visit?

[Zakalwe]

Did it land close enough to any of the Apollo sites that the rover could pay them a visit?

Nowhere near. It landed in the Sinus Iridium. The nearest Apollo site would A15 at Hadley Rille, roughly 1000Km away.

[gwiz]

Nowhere near. It landed in the Sinus Iridium. The nearest Apollo site would A15 at Hadley Rille, roughly 1000Km away.

It actually landed in the Mare Imbrium, but that doesn't alter the situation re other sites.

[LunarOrbit]

Nowhere near.

Well that's disappointing.

[Allan F]

That's a 200 day drive, if it goes non-stop. Doubt it would last that long. What's the longest endurance of an off-world rover? Distance and time?

[LunarOrbit]

The Opportunity rover has driven almost 40km since 2004. So I doubt 1000km is a realistic goal for the Chinese lunar rover.

[Zakalwe]

Nowhere near. It landed in the Sinus Iridium. The nearest Apollo site would A15 at Hadley Rille, roughly 1000Km away.

It actually landed in the Mare Imbrium, but that doesn't alter the situation re other sites.

Yes, most websites are saying Sinus Iridium but the location of the landing site is  44.1260°N 19.5014°W. Thats the Mare Imbrium, and the nearest named crater is Laplace F.

[Allan F]

The Opportunity rover has driven almost 40km since 2004. So I doubt 1000km is a realistic goal for the Chinese lunar rover.

Impressive.

[Noldi400]

That's a 200 day drive, if it goes non-stop. Doubt it would last that long. What's the longest endurance of an off-world rover? Distance and time?

According to Leonard David's article on space.com, Jade Rabbit is designed to function for 12 months. 

[dwight]

I couldn't help but notice how today's photos show non-parallel shadows. That raises an intersting question to the HB crowd who want the Yutu to discredit Apollo. Also where the hell is the blast crater??

[gwiz]

The Opportunity rover has driven almost 40km since 2004. So I doubt 1000km is a realistic goal for the Chinese lunar rover.

Lunokhod 2 went slightly further, but in a much shorter time.  The lunar environment is probably a lot more hostile than Mars for a rover, due to the greater temperature range and the abrasive lunar dust.

[Zakalwe]

Here's footage of the descent and touchdown

Ohh, there's no stars. And there's no blast crater.

 

[Echnaton]

Here's footage of the descent and touchdown

Nice video.  I really enjoyed the self similar look of the random pattern of craters on surface.  As small craters became big craters  during the descent the even smaller ones came into view to replace them.

[ka9q]

You beat me to it! I was also going to say that this was a beautiful illustration of the fractal nature of the surface. It does make it hard to know your altitude until the dust starts blowing around.

And there's no visible plume.

And no crater.

I can't wait to hear what Hunchbacked, Jarrah White and all their sycophants have to say about this...