Rosetta takes 'selfie' ahead of landing site selection

[n2doc]

The Rosetta spacecraft has sent a hauntingly beautiful picture of itself from deep space.

It was taken with the CIVA camera situated on Rosetta's landing craft known as Philae.

The image was taken on 7 September from a distance of about 50km from the comet seen at the top of the picture.

It shows the edge of the spacecraft and one of its 14m-long solar wings glistening in sunlight against the blackness of space.


more
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29044139

[sharp_stick]

1. I used something like this

to explain the usefulness of math to my 9 year old daughter.

I'm always amazed at what they can do over such huge distances, I rarely hit the garbage can with waste paper never mind land a spaceship on a rock.

[Octafish]

2. Thank you, n2doc!

That's the first time I've seen two of my favorite pictures I've ever seen.

Absolutely amazing images, almost like being there.

[alfredo]

3. That 's beautiful

[defacto7]

4. Beautiful

The second picture looks like Mt. Everest, but when you think about it, it is like a free floating Mt. Everest... in space... just the mountain.

[longship]

5. Science is so fucking cool!

And planetary science is awesome.

Emily Lakdawalla breaks it down: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2014/09111456-new-rosetta-views-and-first.html

Her awesome Planetary science Blog: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/

R&K

[Plucketeer]

6. Science IS cool!

Imagine how much more of it we could be practicing if we weren't so intent on blasting and blowing one another up. We're a STUPID species with occasional blips of brilliance. Oh that it were just the opposite.