Gallery: The Weirdest, Coolest Stuff We've Learned About Rosetta's Comet So Far

  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Soil and Mountain
    N. Thomas et al., Science, Vol347, Issue 6220 (2015)
    01

    thomas5HR

    Various features on a smooth part of the comet's surface in the region named Imhotep.
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    N. Thomas et al., Science, Vol347, Issue 6220 (2015)
    02

    thomas2HR

    Features on a structure dubbed Hathor. Boulders are strewn along the surface (lower right).
  • Image may contain Mountain Outdoors Nature Soil Volcano and Crater
    N. Thomas et al., Science, Vol347, Issue 6220 (2015)
    03

    thomas3HR

    The left image shows irregular fracturing and the right shows a circular depression feature.
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    N. Thomas et al., Science, Vol347, Issue 6220 (2015)
    04

    thomas6HR

    Rough features in the region known as Aker on the comet's body.
  • Image may contain Soil Nature Tar and Archaeology
    N. Thomas et al., Science, Vol347, Issue 6220 (2015)
    05

    thomas7HR

    Brittle surface material may have collapsed to form the features seen on the left image. The right shows part of a circular depression in the region named Seth.
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    H. Sierks et al., Science, Vol347, Issue 6220 (2015)
    06

    sierks1HR

    Pits in the region named Seth. The enhanced contrast image on the right reveals fine structures that appear to be jets shooting from the pit.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Moon Night Outdoors Outer Space Nature and Planet
    ESA/Rosetta/Gordan Ugarkovich/Robert Vanderbei
    07

    capaccioni1HR

    Compared to Earth and the moon, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is really dark. (Sizes not to scale.)
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    N. Thomas et al., Science, Vol347, Issue 6220 (2015)
    08

    thomas1HR

    Researchers divided up the surface of the comet into different regions, giving them names according to the Rosetta mission's Egyptian theme.
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