Japan's space agency says it's communicating with its un-crewed craft "Moon Sniper" after it landed on the lunar surface
But scientists say the craft's solar generators aren't working - it's relying entirely on batteries
Japan's space agency is now rushing to fix the solar generators before the batteries run out
The landing means Japan becomes only the fifth country to land on the Moon after the US, the former Soviet Union, China and India
The Japanese spacecraft aimed to land within 100m (328ft) of a location near the Shioli crater, on the near side of the Moon - scientists are still confirming if they've managed this
Last year, India made history when it successfully landed a spacecraft near the south pole of the Moon
It probably won't come as a surprise to hear that the press conference isn't quite ready to begin.
A voice on Jaxa's live feed says they need a few more minutes to get ready. Stay with us for updates.
We've just heard on the Japanese space agency's live feed that they're planning to give an update on the mission in about 10 minutes - that's 02:10 local time (17:10 GMT).
If today’s landing has been successful it will make Japan only the fifth country in the world to put a spacecraft on the Moon.
The other four nations are the US, China, the former Soviet Union and India, which accomplished the feat in August 2023.
Today's Slim project has been in development for more than two decades and is the Japanese space agency’s second moon landing attempt after it lost contact with the OMOTENASHI lander in 2022.
The agency has successfully landed twice on small asteroids but landing on the Moon is more difficult due to its gravity.
Image source, ReutersA miniature model of SLIM is displayed at JAXA's facility in the south of Tokyo
As we wait for an update from Japan's space agency, let's remind you about the purpose of the mission.
The scientific equipment hopefully now landed on the moon will attempt to find water and other elements that sustain human life.
Japan’s space agency is also hoping that the precision landing technology the Moon Sniper uses can lead to the exploration of hilly Moon poles, seen as potential sources of oxygen, water and fuel.
Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent
Without wishing to repeat ourselves over and over, the wait for official confirmation on the success of the landing continues...
A spokesperson for Jaxa just cut across the holding page for the upcoming streamed press conference to say that the agency was still trying to confirm the status of the Slim lander.
This could take “up to two hours”, the spokesperson emphasised. All that said, amateur radio trackers continue to report signals coming from both Slim and the small hopping rover.
So that means we might be waiting until after 17:00 GMT for confirmation. Spare a thought for those awaiting the news in Japan - that's 02:00 for them.
Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent
As we await an update from Jaxa, it’s important to recognise what engineers are doing now.
They’ll be looking very carefully at the telemetry they received just before the scheduled touchdown and what came in at – and hopefully after – the engines shut down.
The team in mission control will want to assess the status, not just of the lander but also, if they can, the status of the two roving robots that were due to be jettisoned in the moments just before Slim lowered itself to the surface.
This is potentially a historic moment in space exploration history, so Jaxa needs to get it right.
But, as I said earlier, the reports from amateur radio enthusiasts around the globe are encouraging.
They are picking up signals from both Slim and the hopping robot which has independent means to contact Earth.
We're still waiting for confirmation of whether Slim has successfully landed on the Moon. Japan's space agency has still not resumed its live video feed which was tracking the landing before it abruptly came to a pause.
As a reminder, we're expecting a press conference with the agency at some point...
Michael Bristow, the BBC's Asia Pacific editor, says prestige and rivalling China are big motivations for Japan's attempts to land Slim on the Moon successfully.
Our journalist explains that Japan doesn't want to be seen as lagging behind its near-neighbour, which is among only five countries to achieve a successful landing on the Moon.
Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent
We’re awaiting confirmation from Japan's space agency Jaxa that its Slim lander is down and safe.
Interestingly, amateur radio trackers are reporting strong signals coming from the Moon in the frequencies expected from Slim.
And if you look at Nasa’s Deep Space Network, which talks to spacecraft – it’s indicating that it is receiving signals from Slim. But we await official word from Jaxa...
Image source, Nasa
More now from former Nasa scientist Dr Emma Gatti.
She says if Slim lands where it's meant to, that's 70% of the mission complete.
The scientific missions - that would begin once the spacecraft has successfully landed - are not the first priority, she says, but they are important.
The scientists are interested in understanding the structure and composition the Moon, which could in turn help us better understand our own planet.
While we're waiting for confirmation of whether it's been a successful landing, the live feed has now been paused.
We're awaiting a press conference shortly, where Japan's space agency will no doubt confirm what has happened.
As we've mentioned, Slim appears to have landed on the Moon's surface.
But we're now waiting for official confirmation from Japan's space agency about this, and also whether it's been a successful soft landing or a hard landing.
We're now waiting for confirmation from the Japanese space agency that it has received a signal from Slim.
Former Nasa scientist Dr Emma Gatti says it will be an historic moment if it's been a soft landing.
And we're now hearing the Slim has landed successfully.
But we're still waiting for confirmation from Japan's space agency about whether it's been a soft landing or a hard landing.
We're now getting closer and closer...
In the next few moments we could see touchdown, according to the space agency.
Our correspondent Jon Amos says things are looking good.
Another update now from Japan's space agency.
It says the vertical descent has begun.
The spacecraft is now around 500m from the surface of the moon.
The Japanese attempt to land on the Moon just 100m from its target is "unprecedented", says Dr Emma Gatti, a former Nasa scientist and editor-in-chief of SpaceWatch Global.
Most spacecrafts touch down kilometres away from their intended target, she tells the BBC.
Apollo 11 - the spacecraft that landed the first humans on the moon - landed around 6.5 kilometres from the target, which is "a bit like if you wanted to land in Buckingham Palace and you arrive in Brixton," she says.
She adds that it would be "historic" for Japan - a country much smaller than the United States or China - to join them in becoming only the fifth country to land on the Moon.
We're now hearing an update from Japan's space agency, which says Slim is "close" to its planned trajectory.
It has now started to descend and the craft is on its "second boost" stage.
Image source, JAXASlim's movement is being monitored
Things appear to be going well so far. The spacecraft is 25km away and has gone into coasting mode.
It has started to scan on the Moon's surface, looking for the exact place to land.
Just a reminder, that Slim is meant to be beginning its descent about now - that is, at 15:00 GMT, or midnight in Japan's time.
We've not yet had confirmation from Japan's space agency that the descent has begun.
As a reminder, when Slim makes its descent it will be roughly 15km (9 miles) from its destination.
If everything goes to plan, the Japanese spacecraft is meant to make its soft landing about 20 minutes after beginning its descent.