November 12, 2009 | 0 comments

First view of Earth as Rosetta approaches home

This spectacular image of our home planet was captured by the OSIRIS instrument on ESA's Rosetta comet chaser earlier today as the spacecraft approached Earth for the third and final swingby. Closest approach is due at 08:45 CET, 13 November 2009. Follow Rosetta's progress at ESA's and .

First view of Earth as Rosetta approaches home First view as Rosetta approaches home

The OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System) is a wide-angle camera and a narrow-angle camera to obtain high-resolution images of the comet's nucleus and the asteroids that Rosetta passes on its voyage to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It will help in identifying the best landing sites.

Principal Investigator: H.U. Keller, MPAe, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany

Rosetta is also investigating a cosmic mystery: a gravitational anomaly that has baffled scientists for two decades.

What is ESA?
All ESA articles

Read Comments (0) | Post a comment

Discuss This Article

Click here to submit your comment.

VIEW:



	Email:
	Name:
	Address:
	Address 2:
	City:
	State:

Subscription Center

World Changing Ideas

Video ContestInnovation is the key to a better future. Enter your own World Changing Ideas videos in our contest.

Editor's Pick

Time to Ban Production of Nuclear Weapons MaterialA new global treaty that cuts off production of plutonium and highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons could jump-start nuclear disarmament and help prevent proliferation