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Rosetta space probe takes sharp, close-up images of comet
whdh / ap ^ | 2-16-2015

Posted on 02/16/2015 8:09:47 AM PST by Citizen Zed

The European Space Agency says high-resolution images the Rosetta space probe took during a swoop close to a comet it's been tracking for months show boulders on the comet's surface as well as "stunning details of the contrasting terrain."

The agency said Monday the boulders ranged in size from a few meters (yards) to a few tens of meters, and lie "scattered across the whole surface of the comet." It says the sun was directly behind Rosetta as the pictures were taken, providing optimal light conditions.

(Excerpt) Read more at whdh.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: churyumovgerasimenko; comet; comet67p; comets; philae; rosetta
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1 posted on 02/16/2015 8:09:47 AM PST by Citizen Zed
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To: Citizen Zed

Has anyone seen the size of this comet mentioned?


2 posted on 02/16/2015 8:15:07 AM PST by BwanaNdege
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To: Citizen Zed

Can hardly think of an object so mundane and yet so incredible to view up close.


3 posted on 02/16/2015 8:15:16 AM PST by Fester Chugabrew (Even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.)
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To: Citizen Zed

It says the sun was directly behind Rosetta as the pictures were taken, providing optimal light conditions.

....................................................

Wouldn’t optimal light conditions be with the sun behind the camera?


4 posted on 02/16/2015 8:18:09 AM PST by samtheman
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To: samtheman

Since Rosetta is the probe, not the comet, the statement is correct.


5 posted on 02/16/2015 8:23:59 AM PST by Little Pig
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To: SunkenCiv

Ping!


6 posted on 02/16/2015 8:26:16 AM PST by Squawk 8888 (Will steal your comments & post them on Twitter)
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To: Citizen Zed

very nice


7 posted on 02/16/2015 8:27:02 AM PST by GeronL
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To: samtheman
Yes! Even in Kerbal land


8 posted on 02/16/2015 8:32:06 AM PST by GeronL
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To: Little Pig

Oops.
:)


9 posted on 02/16/2015 8:33:22 AM PST by samtheman
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To: GeronL

I’ve seen a lot of Kerbal out there lately. Is it a fun “game?”


10 posted on 02/16/2015 8:34:30 AM PST by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: BwanaNdege

I thought I had read that it was 5 kilometers in length.


11 posted on 02/16/2015 8:34:33 AM PST by bubbacluck (America 180)
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To: Citizen Zed
The whole shebang is up on flickr, somewheres.

Maybe HERE.


12 posted on 02/16/2015 8:35:14 AM PST by Prospero (Si Deus trucido mihi, ego etiam fides Deus.)
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To: Citizen Zed

Nice photo - just don’t name it “Lucifer’s Hammer”.


13 posted on 02/16/2015 8:35:24 AM PST by dainbramaged (Get out of my country now)
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To: rarestia

frustrating in some ways but the mods or cheats help make it fun... gotta kill a lot of Kerbals to learn things.


14 posted on 02/16/2015 8:50:10 AM PST by GeronL
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To: Prospero
ESA's Rosetta Blog has this and much else.
15 posted on 02/16/2015 8:54:26 AM PST by Prospero (Si Deus trucido mihi, ego etiam fides Deus.)
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To: Prospero

Very cool


16 posted on 02/16/2015 9:03:36 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: dainbramaged

Prob my favorite Book


17 posted on 02/16/2015 9:17:32 AM PST by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: Prospero

No craters.


18 posted on 02/16/2015 9:18:17 AM PST by Steely Tom (Vote GOP for A Slower Handbasket)
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To: Citizen Zed
Maybe this thing will split in two while under observation fro Rosetta. Wouldn't that be cool?


Four-image mosaic made from NavCam images acquired on Feb. 14, 2015 at 19:42 UTC at a distance of 31.6 km. Credits: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam – CC BY-SA IGO 3.0.

19 posted on 02/16/2015 9:20:06 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Citizen Zed
the boulders ranged in size from a few meters (yards) to a few tens of meters, and lie "scattered across the whole surface of the comet."

Why wouldn't they have floated away in the zero gravity of outer space?

20 posted on 02/16/2015 9:21:19 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Uncle Sy: "Beavers are like Ninjas, they only come out at night and they're hard to find")
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