Image taken just 16 kilometers from comet.
Rosetta’s lander Philae is certainly doing its job to let the world know it’s rapidly approaching comet 67P/C-G: On October 7, the spacecraft snapped a pic showing not just the (much closer) comet, but one of it’s 14-meter solar arrays as well.
The image, a combination of short- and long-exposure photographs, shows some amazing details. The active “neck” region of the comet is visible, and the composite image shows jets of gas and dust streaming forth. Also new in this image is Philae’s landing site, visible on the smaller of the comet’s two lobes.
In less than a month, Philae will separate from Rosetta and set forth for its landing site. Rosetta’s CIVA imaging system will take its next pictures shortly after separation, capturing the lander as it forever leaves Rosetta for the comet. As Philae snaps its own images as it touches down, Rosetta will begin to take 360 degree panoramic images of both 67P/C-G and Philae.
At the time of the image, Rosetta was just 16 kilometers from 67P/C-G.
Do not mess with Rosetta’s selfie game. Rosetta will always out-selfie you.
Leave a Reply