Rosetta orbiting around the comet
Rosetta orbiting Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and scanning its surface to make scientific measurements. The colours of the beams and their shape on the surface represent two different instruments imaging and analysing the comet.
The Rosetta orbiter has a total of 11 instruments to study the characteristics and environment of the comet. Rosetta is taking images of the comet at a variety of different wavelengths, measuring its gravity, mass, density, internal structure, shape and rotation, and assessing the properties of its gaseous, dust-laden atmosphere, or coma. It is also probing the surrounding plasma environment and analysing how it interacts with the solar wind.
Rosetta also carries a small lander, Philae, which will descend to the surface of the comet and make in situ measurements using its suite of 10 instruments.
The animation is not to scale; the comet is about 4.1 km wide and Rosetta is 32 m across including its solar wings, and it conducts scientific investigations at a range of altitudes. The comet shape is based on a true comet shape model.
Credits: ESA
When that think landing at the comet, will desviate it to earth and furthermore the end of life…
Good to know that "The colours of the beams and their shape on the surface represent two different instruments […]", but that's only half the information to me 😉 I'm dying to know WHICH instruments we are talking about here.
Wonderful! Good luck everyone!
How does the satellite keep in a particular obit? Does it mean the comet has gravity to help keep the Satellite in position?
yo no entiendo de Ingenieria, pero se que ESA es un organismo serio y que hace muchos años que trabajan en este projecto Rosetta.Estoy agradecida y maravillada por este gran esfuerzo cientifico. Creo que es un gran logro, y, mas alla de los tecnicismos, todos podemos compartir esta satisfaccion. Muchisimas gracias por todo, ESA.
Real picks or gfo 🙂
Awesome job every one!!! Can't wait to hear about what you find out from analyzing the data. BTW, great job involving the public. Also, whoever is tweeting for @Philae2014 and @ESA_Rosetta is doing a fantastic job 🙂
I do not hear the audio.
He doesn't miss a spot.
Analyzing…. Analyzing…. Analyzing…. Determination…. It's a comet.
look like a statue head and shoulders
Since the comet has such low gravity, will Rosetta be able to maintain a conventional orbit around the comet? If so, how long will that orbital period be? I am guesstimating two or three days (48-72 hours). Altitude 20 miles, orbital path 60+ miles, escape velocity 1 MPH.
It's actually about ethics in game journalism.
So, is the lander given up for dead? Or will there be future attempts to wake it up?