There’s a Crack Forming on Rosetta’s 67P. Is it Breaking Up?

universetoday.com ^ | on January 24, 2015 | Tim Reyes

[BenLurkin]

The crack, or fissure, could spell the beginning of the end for comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. It is located in the neck area, in the region named Hapi, between the two lobes that make 67P appear so much like a Rubber Duck from a distance. The fissure could represent a focal point of many properties and forces at work, such as the rotation rate and axis – basically head over heels of the comet. The fissure lies in the most active area at present, and possibly the most active area overall. Though the Hapi region appears to receive nearly constant sunlight, at this time, Rosetta measurements (below) show otherwise – receiving 15% less sunlight than elsewhere

[BenLurkin]

A fissure spanning over 100 meters across the neck of Rosetta’s comet 67P raises the question of if, or when, the comet will breakup. The fissure is part of released studies by Rosetta scientists in the journal Science. (Image Credits: ESA/Rosetta, Illustration, T.Reyes)

[BenLurkin]

ping

[Jack Hydrazine]

Crack kills!

[ClearCase_guy]

in the region named Hapi, between the two lobes that make 67P appear so much like a Rubber Duck

[cripplecreek]

It would be very cool to see it happen. The bonus science would more than make up for the loss of the lander.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The crack in comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko bespeaks typically shoddy Russian workmanship.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Ah, breaker one-nine, this here’s the Rubber Duck. You gotta copy on me, Pig Pen, c’mon?
Ah, yeah, 10-4, Pig Pen, fer shure, fer shure. By golly, it’s clean clear to Flag Town, c’mon.
Yeah, that’s a big 10-4 there, Pig Pen, yeah, we definitely got the front door, good buddy.
Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy

I says, “Pig Pen, this here’s the Rubber Duck. And I’m about to put the hammer down.”

Ah, breaker, Pig Pen, this here’s the Duck. And, you wanna back off them hogs?
Yeah, 10-4, ‘bout five mile or so. Ten, roger. Them hogs is gettin’ in-tense up here.

Ah, Rubber Duck to Sodbuster, come over.
Yeah, 10-4, Sodbuster?
Lissen, you wanna put that micra-bus in behind that suicide jockey? Yeah, he’s haulin’ dynamite, and he needs all the help he can get.

[left that other site]

Ping!

[Jack Hydrazine]

[babygene]

If it broke up, would the pieces follow the same path as what is now projected?

[BenLurkin]

Article suggests yes.

[Steely Tom]

If an American probe had landed on it, I’m quite certain we would be blamed for the crack, and the break-up, should it occur.

[PGR88]

Global warming strikes again

[moose07]

Rubber Duckie cracking up under the pressure of all the attention! PING!

[moovova]

Pretty sure that's just a paragraph ending/beginning...

[Darksheare]

The constant beaming of the tune from sesame street “rubber ducky” finally made it snap.
My God, it will now try to murder us all.

[Cowboy Bob]

If one comet breaks up, its a tragedy. If millions and billions brake up across the galaxy, its a statistic.

[BenLurkin]

Well played.

[Yardstick]

Maybe the lander could sort of straddle the crack and hold the comet together.

Or, it could use its drilling tool to help cleave the comet apart.

I think I vote for the latter.

[mc5cents]

Well if millions and billions brake up there sure is going to be one hell of a backup on the intergalactic interstate!! That’s all I can say. :-)