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

Skip to comments.

Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Rosetta's Selfie
NASA ^ | October 16, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 10/16/2014 5:33:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: This Rosetta spacecraft selfie was snapped on October 7th. At the time the spacecraft was about 472 million kilometers from planet Earth, but only 16 kilometers from the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Looming beyond the spacecraft near the top of the frame, dust and gas stream away from the comet's curious double-lobed nucleus and bright sunlight glints off one of Rosetta's 14 meter long solar arrays. In fact, two exposures, one short and one long, were combined to record the dramatic high contrast scene using the CIVA camera system on Rosetta's still-attached Philae lander. Its chosen primary landing site is visible on the smaller lobe of the nucleus. This is the last image anticipated from Philae's cameras before the lander separates from Rosetta on November 12. Shortly after separation Philae will take another image looking back toward the orbiter, and begin its descent to the nucleus of the comet.

October 16, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; churyumovgerasimenko; comet; comet67p; cometprobe; philae; rosetta; science
[Credit: ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA]

1 posted on 10/16/2014 5:33:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

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

2 posted on 10/16/2014 5:33:50 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Pretty freaking amazing shot!


3 posted on 10/16/2014 5:36:35 PM PDT by John Valentine (Deep in the Heart of Texas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

The solar panel looks like it is a large lighted landing strip for Ufo’s.


4 posted on 10/16/2014 5:39:25 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 ((VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red_Devil 232

Hey, that’s supposed to be classified! ;’)


5 posted on 10/16/2014 5:55:02 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: John Valentine

Yeah, and it fits our times.


6 posted on 10/16/2014 5:55:21 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

“Open the pod bay doors, HAL.”


7 posted on 10/16/2014 6:02:39 PM PDT by Steely Tom (Thank you for self-censoring.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red_Devil 232

You’d think they’d find some way to put advertsing on
there,


8 posted on 10/16/2014 6:08:51 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

That’s pretty neat. Thanks, SunkenCiv!


9 posted on 10/16/2014 7:26:20 PM PDT by familyop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

it’s awesome....what are supposed to learn from this and was it worth the money????


10 posted on 10/16/2014 7:31:48 PM PDT by terycarl (common sense prevails over all)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop

and Rosetta’s not even getting started on its primary mission yet. :’)


11 posted on 10/16/2014 7:32:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: terycarl

splicing two photographs into one, did they use PhotoShop for that?


12 posted on 10/16/2014 7:42:09 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

I’ll be keeping an eye out for posts about Rosetta then.


13 posted on 10/16/2014 8:27:23 PM PDT by familyop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
Incredible!

Thanks SunkenCiv.

14 posted on 10/16/2014 8:37:02 PM PDT by houeto (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Love it.

Thanks!


15 posted on 10/16/2014 8:42:03 PM PDT by highball ("I never should have switched from scotch to martinis." -- the last words of Humphrey Bogart)
[ 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