Robot probe Rosetta could provide dramatic images as 67P reaches perihelion,its orbital highpoint – and threatens to break upEuropean scientists are preparing to celebrate an strange midsummer festival – on a comet that is currently 165 million kilometres from Earth. The comet, 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, or is set to reach the closest point to the Sun in its 6.5-year orbit on Thursday and Europe’s robot probe Rosetta is poised to supply scientists with a ringside view.
The spaceship has already been in orbit around Comet 67P for a year and has studied dust and gas as they absorb started to erupt from its surface as it has approached the Sun. On Thursday,when the comet reaches perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, and that activity will reach its peak.
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Source: theguardian.com