67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Comet

Int

Astronomical specifications:

Discovered by	Klim Ivanovych Churyumov and Svetlana Ivanovna Gerasimenko
Discovery date	20 September 1969
Orbital characteristics:
Distance from Sun	km
Perihelion	1.2432 AU
Aphelion	5.6829 AU
Inclination	deg
Eccentricity	0.64102
Orbital periode rond Sun	6.44 yaers
Main orbital speed	km/s
Inclination to Sun equator	7.0405 deg
Physical characteristics:
Dimensions	Large lobe: 4.1x3.2x1.3 km Small lobe: 2.5x2.5x2 km
Radius	km
Surface area	km²
Volume	10⁶ km³
Mass	(1.0 +-0.1) 10¹³ kg
Density	0.4 g/cm³
Equatorial surface gravity	m/s²
Escape velocity	estimated 1 m/s
Rotation period	12.4043 +-0.0007 h
Surface temperature	K
Axial tilt	deg
Atmospheric composition

A picture acquired by the ROLIS (ROsetta Lander Imaging System) instrument on the Philae lander, showing the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during Philae′s descent from a distance of approximately 3 km from the surface, on Nov 12, 2014. Credit: ESA.

Descriptions:

Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko was discovered in 1969 and is considered a dusty comet that is roughly two by three miles in diameter.
As preparation for the Rosetta mission, Hubble Space Telescope pictures taken on 12 March 2003 were closely analysed. An overall 3D model was constructed and computer-generated images were created.
On 25 April 2012, the most detailed observations to date were taken with the 2-metre Faulkes Telescope by N. Howes, G. Sostero and E. Guido while it was at its aphelion.
On 6 June 2014 water vapor was detected being released at a rate of roughly 1 L/s (0.26 USgal/s) when Rosetta was 360,000 km (220,000 mi) from Churyumov–Gerasimenko and 3.9 AU (580,000,000 km) from the Sun. On 14 July 2014, images taken by Rosetta showed that its nucleus is irregular in shape with two distinct sections. One explanation is that it is a contact binary formed by a collision between two comets, but other formation scenarios exist: for example, it may have been gravitationally affected by another object, or significant amounts of ice may have sublimated from its surface to leave behind an asymmetric shape. The size of the nucleus is estimated to be 3.5×4 km (2.2×2.5 mi).

A bleak yet beautiful boulder-strewn landscape on the smaller of the two lobes of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko taken from a distance of just 5 miles (8 km) taken by Rosetta. Credit: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team.

Philae on comet.Credit: ESA

This photo from the European Space Agency is the Philae lander's view of its landing site on Comet 67P/C-G's surface. Image release Nov. 13, 2014. Credit: ESA

External links:

Universetoday.com Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Jan 2015 description.
Universetoday.com A fissure in the neck of the comet Jan 2015 description.

Churyumov-Gerasimenko missions:

Name	Launch Date	Launch rocket	Weight (kg)	Mission
Rosetta (ESA)	02 Mar 2004	Ariane 5G+	3000 kg Orbiter mass 1,200 kg	Comet orbiter and lander (Philae). Arrival at Comet 67 P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is May-2014 for start of 1.5-year science mission. Rosetta flight during oct 2014 at a distance of 10 km above the comet.
Philae (ESA)	02-Mar-04	Ariane 5G+	100 kg	The 85 kg Philae lander was ejected from the Rosetta probe 22 km from Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at 0835 UTC Nov 12, 2014. The lander bounced off the surface gently and settled down in another location at 1726 UTC, for a second briefer bounce that resulted in final touchdown at 1733 UTC. It is the first landing of a probe on a comet.

Ref.: #12, #66, #129 - update: 24.01.15

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