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OSIRIS discovers balancing rock on 67P
Max Planck Institute ^ | May 18, 2015 | Max Planck Institute

Posted on 05/19/2015 4:24:15 PM PDT by OK Sun

Scientists from Rosetta’s OSIRIS team have discovered an extraordinary formation on the larger lobe of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the Aker region. From a group of three boulders the largest one with a diameter of approximately 30 meters stands out: images obtained on 16 September 2014 from a distance of 29 kilometers with the help of Rosetta’s scientific imaging system OSIRIS show it to perch on the rim of a small depression. There seems to be only a very small contact area with the nucleus.

Similar geological formations are found also on Earth. So-called balancing rocks touch the underground with only a tiny fraction of their surface and often look as if they may tilt or topple over any moment. Some can actually be rocked back and forth and are then referred to as “rocking stones.” Impressive examples of balancing rocks occur in Australia or the southwest of the USA. Often these boulders travelled to their current location onboard of glaciers. In other cases, wind and water eroded softer material surrounding the rock.

“How the potential balancing rock on the comet was formed, is not clear at this point”, says OSIRIS Principal Investigator Holger Sierks from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany. It is possible that also on 67P transport processes did their part. The comet’s activity may cause such boulders to move and thus reach a new location. . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at mps.mpg.de ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 67p; astronomy; balancing; balancingrock; balancingrocks; churyumovgerasimenko; comet; comet67p; comets; osiris; philae; rock; rosetta; science; space

1 posted on 05/19/2015 4:24:15 PM PDT by OK Sun
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To: OK Sun

The very low gravity probably helps.


2 posted on 05/19/2015 4:27:21 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: cripplecreek

Yeah, I’m no scientist but that’s what I thought.


3 posted on 05/19/2015 4:29:32 PM PDT by dp0622
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To: OK Sun

It’s not so remarkable.

The gravity of the comet is almost zero.

However the resistance offered to moving, by other materials it contacts, remains about what it normally is.

The result is that the physical resistances are much expanded relative to the gravity.

Interesting however.


4 posted on 05/19/2015 4:29:42 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network ( http://www.census.gov/foreign-tradebalance/c5700.html)
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To: cripplecreek

Oh yeah, you posted that by the time I did.

What you said.


5 posted on 05/19/2015 4:35:10 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network ( http://www.census.gov/foreign-tradebalance/c5700.html)
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To: dp0622
I personally think the striations we see on many asteroids are caused by low gravity low speed rolling impacts. Also streams of small rocks impacting as the asteroid rotates.

Martian Moon Phobos.


6 posted on 05/19/2015 4:40:22 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: cripplecreek

magnificent photo.


7 posted on 05/19/2015 4:43:22 PM PDT by dp0622
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To: cripplecreek; Chode

Kinda looks like the first muffins I made as a Kid


8 posted on 05/19/2015 4:53:27 PM PDT by mabarker1 (congress, The Opposite of Progress.)
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To: mabarker1
and if they were like mine, just as hard too...
9 posted on 05/19/2015 4:57:27 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
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To: OK Sun

Keep the Boy Scout leaders away!


10 posted on 05/19/2015 4:59:47 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: OK Sun

Keep the Boy Scout leaders away!


11 posted on 05/19/2015 5:01:36 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: OK Sun


12 posted on 05/19/2015 5:08:07 PM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: Chode

Yep
But not near as bad as the first cup of instant coffee I made for Mom. I’d seen the coffee POT getting several spoons of coffee put in it so I figured the same went for the Instant stuff...

After Mom put Her hair back on Her head She made a whole pot of coffee from the one cup.


13 posted on 05/19/2015 5:15:18 PM PDT by mabarker1 (congress, The Opposite of Progress.)
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To: OK Sun
It is possible that also on 67P transport processes did their part. The comet’s activity may cause such boulders to move and thus reach a new location...

I didn't know what transport processes referred to so I looked it up.

14 posted on 05/19/2015 5:15:31 PM PDT by NutCrackerBoy
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To: NutCrackerBoy

Thanks. Good to learn something new.


15 posted on 05/19/2015 5:21:09 PM PDT by OK Sun (Freedom is not just another word.)
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To: mabarker1
heh heh heh
16 posted on 05/19/2015 5:53:18 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
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To: OK Sun

Simple: The comet has ZITS!


17 posted on 05/19/2015 6:52:36 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper (madmax)
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To: OK Sun

Tom Corbett did it... about 70 years ago.


18 posted on 05/19/2015 7:47:40 PM PDT by dasboot
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To: OK Sun; brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
Note: this topic is from 5/19/2015. Thanks OK Sun. Extra to APoD.

19 posted on 06/01/2015 8:08:01 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW!)
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To: OK Sun

Every star has it’s clinging entourage.................


20 posted on 06/01/2015 8:09:58 AM PDT by Red Badger (Man builds a ship in a bottle. God builds a universe in the palm of His hand.............)
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