New Pictures Of Philae’s Lonely Resting Spot On The Comet Emerge

universetoday.com ^ | on December 17, 2014 | Elizabeth Howell

[BenLurkin]

The lander is sleeping in a shady spot on the comet’s surface after the dramatic touchdown — actually, three touchdowns — on Nov. 12, when it flew for more than two hours across the surface and bounced as high as two miles (3.2 kilometers). This was partly because harpoons expected to secure it to the surface failed to deploy, and also because the comet crust was icier than expected, according to Gizmodo.

[BenLurkin]

This (in blue) is where the Philae lander came to rest on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The graphic is based on topographic modelling of the comet’s nucleus and Philae’s picture of a nearby cliff (in white).
Credit: ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CNES/FD/CIVA

[BenLurkin]

More on it here: http://gizmodo.com/rosetta-update-what-it-found-whats-next-1672274557

[dr_lew]

I feel a song coming on.

[blam]

I thought of this one.

[dr_lew]

That’s a different angle, but it does look the part. I actually remember a specific moment in time when I was listening to Telstar on a record player in a dorm room, but what happened in the minutes or hours before or after that, I couldn’t say ... it was all about the future!

[tumblindice]

“harpoons ... failed to deploy”
Aaarrgghh

[Talisker]

"...because the comet crust was icier than expected..."

Yeah, it was SO icy it was ROCK instead of ice.

Now THAT'S icy! LOL!

[Paladin2]

Rock is just frozen molten, uh, uh , rock!

[tumblindice]

Hey there, lonely lander,
My only lander—

Don’t you know this asteroid,
Loves you?

[tumblindice]

(Yeah, I know it’s a comet. I needed three sillybulls.)

[Chance Hart]

Thanks Tublin! I haven’t laughed this hard in months. Must be the Pirate in me. LOLOLOL

[Chance Hart]

Sorry about the missing m TuMblin
“aarrgghh”

[PGalt]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. Only $1.4 billion Euros…

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30038871