Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Astronomy Picture of the Day -- 62 Kilometers above Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko
NASA ^ | September 15, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 09/14/2014 10:40:53 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Spacecraft Rosetta continues to approach, circle, and map Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Crossing the inner Solar System for ten years to reach the vicinity of the comet last month, the robotic spacecraft continues to image the unusual double-lobed comet nucleus. The reconstructed-color image featured, taken about 10 days ago, indicates how dark this comet nucleus is. On the average, the comet's surface reflects only about four percent of impinging visible light, making it as dark as coal. Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko spans about four kilometers in length and has a surface gravity so low that an astronaut could jump off of it. In about two months, Rosetta is scheduled to release the first probe ever to attempt a controlled landing on a comet's nucleus.

September 15, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; churyumovgerasimenko; comet; comet67p; cometprobe; comets; philae; rosetta; science
[Credit: ESA / Rosetta / MPS for OSIRIS Team; MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA; Additional Processing & Copyright: Elisabetta Bonora & Marco Faccin (Alive Universe Images)]

1 posted on 09/14/2014 10:40:53 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
The Big One

2 posted on 09/14/2014 10:41:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
Just, Wow!
3 posted on 09/14/2014 11:32:07 PM PDT by Prospero (Si Deus trucido mihi, ego etiam fides Deus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prospero

Yeah, I sucked in some air when the page loaded. The big one shows a great level of detail.


4 posted on 09/14/2014 11:41:43 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
a surface gravity so low that an astronaut could jump off of it. In about two months, Rosetta is scheduled to release the first probe ever to attempt a controlled landing on a comet's nucleus.

A damp bottle rocket would probably be too much retro fire.

5 posted on 09/15/2014 12:02:32 AM PDT by The Cajun (Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, Mark Levin, Mike Lee, Louie Gohmert....Nuff said.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Cajun

:’)


6 posted on 09/15/2014 12:36:58 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: The Cajun

would a bottle rocket ignite or does it need oxygen?


7 posted on 09/15/2014 12:39:15 AM PDT by beebuster2000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

weird that it looks just like some snow cinder that falls off your car underside.


8 posted on 09/15/2014 12:39:49 AM PDT by beebuster2000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Low gravity is the reason I have always been skeptical about plans to send astronauts to asteroids or plans to successfully mine an asteroid.

How do you anchor a shelter or an astronaut or a mining tool in place?

And, once you figure out how to dig, wouldn’t there be a perpetual fog of dirt and small rocks floating around?


9 posted on 09/15/2014 2:18:17 AM PDT by zeestephen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: zeestephen

Not to mention the face of the guy looming out of shadows in the bottom left corner of the Big Picture,...the one they cropped out in the broadcast photo,...looks like the same face on the Martian surface. /CT <;^0


10 posted on 09/15/2014 2:27:45 AM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: zeestephen
Low gravity is the reason I have always been skeptical about plans to send astronauts to asteroids or plans to successfully mine an asteroid.

How do you anchor a shelter or an astronaut or a mining tool in place?

Probably with an auger-type device of some sort. Look at any row of power poles in the US. A few of them will have guy wires. At the bottom end of each guy wire there is an earth anchor, which looks a lot like a short auger. Something like this is the anchor they will use.

And, once you figure out how to dig, wouldn’t there be a perpetual fog of dirt and small rocks floating around?

Most of the dirt, dust and small rocks will have escape velocity and will just keep going into space...

11 posted on 09/15/2014 2:37:34 AM PDT by CurlyDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: beebuster2000
would a bottle rocket ignite or does it need oxygen?

It would fire.

12 posted on 09/15/2014 2:37:45 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Prospero

Dark as coal. Not a dirty snowball. No ice.


13 posted on 09/15/2014 2:39:53 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Should be interesting watching that one as it becomes active.


14 posted on 09/15/2014 3:40:33 AM PDT by cripplecreek ("Moderates" are lying manipulative bottom feeding scum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Spectacular big picture!

The closeup looks as if the right lobe is studded with diamonds.

Thank you for the ping, Mr. Civilizations.


15 posted on 09/15/2014 4:12:26 PM PDT by TheOldLady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
I did the math earlier and worked out that Rosetta's orbital velocity around the comet is just over 6 kilometers a day.

MD

16 posted on 09/15/2014 8:34:08 PM PDT by MikeD (We live in a world where babies are like velveteen rabbits that only become real if they are loved.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson