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by ibgames

EARTHDATE: October 19, 2014

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ROSETTA’S FIRST SELFIE

by Hazed

Rosetta has taken a self-portrait showing the comet 67P/C-G just ten miles away in the background.

The picture was actually taken by the Philae lander which is going to be descending to the comet next month. It has seven micro-cameras arranged around its top, which means it can take panoramic images, and is also fitted with “a visible/infrared microscope imager/spectrometer that will study the composition, texture, and albedo of surface samples.” Both instruments were used to take the selfie, and their output combined to make the image which you can see at the first source link below. There’s more information at the second link.

This is the last selfie that Philae will be taking, according to the ESA, because now it has to get ready for its approach to the comet. The date for its landing has now been set: Philae will touch down on the comet on November 12.

Source:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap141016.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/10/15/rosetta_takes_new_selfie_just_10_miles_from_comet_67pcg/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/10/16/rosetta_landing_is_go_esa_sets_the_time_for_mankinds_first_comet_landing/

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