Astronomy Picture of the Day - Explore Rosetta's Comet

NASA ^ | 10/03/2016 | (see image credits)

[ThomasMore]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2016 October 3

Explore Rosetta's Comet
Image Credit: Science Office, ESA

Explanation: What would it be like to fly around a comet nucleus? To find out, just wait for your WebGL-compatible browser to load a detailed digital model of Comet 67P and then -- go exploring! With a standard mouse, the left button allows you to rotate the comet, the right button allows you to move the comet around, and the scroll wheel allows you to zoom in. ESA's robotic Rosetta spacecraft orbited Comet C67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko from mid-2014 until last Friday, when, after a remarkable and successful mission, it was intentionally set down on the surface and powered down. Among many notable scientific achievements, Rosetta allowed humanity to better understand where comet jets form on comets as they near the Sun.

[ThomasMore]

Go to the site to see the digital model of Rosetta's Comet. Pretty neat! I'm wondering how long it will take for it to split in two?

[ThomasMore]

APOD PING !!!

If you want on the APOD list or off the list, Freepmail me

[Mr. K]

There is a possibility that it is already two pieces just held together by gravity

But a trip around the sun would probably move them apart if that was true

So what do I know anyway...

[ETL]

Related...

Nov 5, 2014

Rosetta and Philae Prepare for Comet Landing

http://twistedsifter.com/videos/rosetta-and-philae-prepare-for-comet-landing/

[ETL]

This series of images of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was captured by Rosetta’s OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on August 12, 2015, just a few hours before the comet reached the closest point to the sun along its 6.5-year orbit, or perihelion. The images were taken from a distance of about 200 miles (330 km) from the comet. The comet’s activity, at its peak intensity around perihelion and in the weeks that follow, is clearly visible in these spectacular images. Image via ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

http://earthsky.org/space/rip-philae-comet-lander-faces-eternal-hibernation