Latest Rosetta image reveals terrific detail of comet's surface

[n2doc]

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The latest narrow angle camera (NAC) view from the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta mission continues to reveal more details regarding Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's surface. Taken July 29 at a distance of 1,210 miles (1,950 kilometers), one pixel corresponds to about 40 yards (37 meters). Clearly visible is the bright "neck" region connecting the two lobes of the nucleus, along with several other discrete bright patches. The reason for these features is still subject to much discussion – they could be due to differences in material or grain size, or to topographical features, for example. A dark spot close to the neck is most likely a shadowing effect. A large surface depression is apparent at the very "top" of the smaller lobe in this orientation.

This time next week, Rosetta will be within just 60 miles (100km) of the comet’s nucleus, and detailed mapping can begin in order to assess candidate landing sites for the Philae lander. For regular image updates from Rosetta, visit its ESA image page and the Rosetta blog.

http://www.astronomy.com/news/2014/07/latest-rosetta-image-reveals-terrific-detail-of-comets-surface

[tridim]

1. Love it! The hires animations should be amazing!

[Adsos Letter]

2. Kidney Stones...Outer Space is afflicted with kidney stones...

...who knew?

[reACTIONary]

3. Thnx... K&R (nt)

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Animation of the close manoeuvres that Rosetta will hopefully make

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/08/01/how-rosetta-arrives-at-a-comet/

Controlling all that, in an uneven gravity field, and with it giving off a bit of gas, just to add a bit of drag ... wow.

[greiner3]

6. During the last few revolutions of the comet;

By Rosetta look as though the two will be very close to each other.

It may be that nothing is to scale but I've not heard the distance Rosetta's drone will be launched from the comet and if Rosetta will continue the close in orbits or it will find a 'safer' distance.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. I think that animation is to scale (apart from the size of the craft, of course)

From the picture in the OP, the solid nucleus is about 4km across, and the ESA blog says:

These manoeuvres will be controlled by thruster burns, then, once at an altitude of about 30 km, the comet’s own weak gravity should be able to keep Rosetta in orbit. Depending on the activity of the comet, the aim is to orbit even closer, perhaps as close as 10 km.

Those final turns look as though they could be at 10km from a 4km rock. (On edit: having rerun the video, perhaps that does show it closer than 10km - or that the rock has been shown larger than 4km)

I'm not sure the distance has been fixed, yet - with such an irregular rock, how they do the landing will require a fair bit of refining, I think. But there is a blog for the lander itself:

The descent will provide a few hours for scientific measurements when the 100 kilogram spacecraft Philae descents from about 2.5 kilometers above the surface to the surface itself. Right after separation and after the lander has unfolded its legs and antennae, the camera CIVA intends to take fare-well images of the orbiter.

http://www.mps.mpg.de/3086295/Philae_Blog1

[Helen Borg]

5. Looks like it's made up of two objects

Perhaps they collided and got fused together long ago....

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Even better now:

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_arrives_at_comet_destination

[True Blue Door]

9. These images are what robotic space exploration is all about.

Mere scientific data, while it can answer questions, is paltry nourishment for the human imagination. But images like these are the real-world stuff of legends and dreams. Some day humans will visit comets and see the wonder with our own eyes.

Thank you, Europe, for this wonderful mission.

[True Blue Door]

10. I would add the comet was discovered by two Ukrainians.

So I hope that somewhere in Ukraine, amid all the problems and fear, these images from the heavens are filling at least a few people's hearts with joy.