Unique Alignment Results In Image Of Rosetta Probe’s Shadow On Comet 67P
- 9 years ago
The Rosetta probe has been zipping around comet 67P for some time, but just recently a unique alignment allowed for the onboard imaging system, OSIRIS, to snap a shot of the craft’s shadow.
The Rosetta probe has been zipping around comet 67P for some time, but just recently a unique alignment allowed for the onboard imaging system, OSIRIS, to snap a shot of the craft’s shadow.
At the time of the picture’s taking, Rosetta was positioned directly in front of the sun, resulting in the casting of its silhouette onto the celestial body.
It was also just under 4 miles away from the comet’s surface, a proximity that, due to the quantity of gas and dust the speeding mass emits, can prove tough to attain.
Conditions on Valentine’s Day proved to be ideal for a close-up visit, so Rosetta’s operators took advantage of the situation and guided the probe inwards.
The efforts paid off, as the journey yielded the highest resolution image to dat
The Rosetta probe has been zipping around comet 67P for some time, but just recently a unique alignment allowed for the onboard imaging system, OSIRIS, to snap a shot of the craft’s shadow.
At the time of the picture’s taking, Rosetta was positioned directly in front of the sun, resulting in the casting of its silhouette onto the celestial body.
It was also just under 4 miles away from the comet’s surface, a proximity that, due to the quantity of gas and dust the speeding mass emits, can prove tough to attain.
Conditions on Valentine’s Day proved to be ideal for a close-up visit, so Rosetta’s operators took advantage of the situation and guided the probe inwards.
The efforts paid off, as the journey yielded the highest resolution image to dat