Rosetta probe takes picture of comet landing site

A Rosetta spacecraft captured an image of Point J, the first place it will land on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The photo was released by NASA (American Space Agency).

Belonging to the European Space Agency, which partners with NASA, Rosetta sent the Philae module to scientists to analyze the first landing option.

The mission conducts analysis of the comet, considered a vestige of the early stages of the Solar System. The image was formed by two pictures taken by the OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on September 14 at a distance of 30 kilometers.

The red circle marks the landing site, which is approximately 500 meters in diameter and is located in the smaller of the comet's two lobes.

The catheter Rosetta will release the module at 5:35 am on November 12, at a distance of approximately 22,5 kilometers from the comet's center. Landing should take place seven hours later. As Rosetta's messages take 28 minutes to reach Earth, landing confirmation should happen at 13 pm.

During the seven hours until the moment of landing, Philae will carry out photographs and scientific experiments, collecting samples of dust, gas and plasma in the environment close to the comet.

It is expected that in March 2015, the comet will start approaching the Sun. With temperatures soaring, Philae will cease to operate. However, Rosetta will continue to monitor the comet's increase in activity until its closest approach to the Sun, in August of next year.

Launched in March 2004, the Rosetta was reactivated in January 2014 after spending 957 days in disuse. 

ppgad@pucrs.br