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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Searching for the Origins of Earth’s Water
Three recently proposed low-cost space missions all aim to answer the same question: Where did Earth's abundant water come from?
How the duck got its neck: Rapid temperature changes from self-shadowing may explain 67P's unusual activity and shape
When Rosetta approached comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko last summer, both its shape and its activity were surprising. It looked like two comets welded together at a skinny neck. A new paper explains how the neck may be steepening itself.
Aluminum Shapemodel of Comet 67P
Mattias Malmer describes his MacGyver-esque process in creating a homemade aluminum version of 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
ESA's cool new interactive comet visualization tool based on amateur imaging work with open data
A terrific new visualization tool for comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko demonstrates the value of sharing mission image data with the public. The browser-based tool lets you spin a simulated 3D view of the comet. It began with a 3D model of the comet created not by ESA, but by a space enthusiast, Mattias Malmer.
New Robotic Spacecraft Posters
Another round of posters to celebrate historic planetary missions.
Proposals to Explore the Solar System’s Smallest Worlds
Van Kane rounds up some of the latest NASA Discovery mission proposals aiming to explore our solar system's smallest bodies.
More than 2000 Rosetta NavCam images for your enjoyment
Last week, the European Space Agency released the first set of images from Rosetta's navigational camera, or NavCam, from the phase of the mission that followed the Philae landing. That makes more than 3500 NavCam images that have been released from the comet phase of the mission.
Philae is awake! What's next for the comet lander's scientific mission?
I woke up early Sunday morning to the dramatic news: Philae is back! With a few days to consider the telemetry, the Philae team is now talking about the science they hope to do. With comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko approaching perihelion in August, it's going to be an exciting ride.
Unseen latitudes of comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko -- revealed!
A recent Rosetta image has revealed a good part of the comet's previously hidden southern terrain to the public for the first time.
More than 1000 Rosetta NavCam images released!
Today the European Space Agency released a ton of NavCam images, taken as the spacecraft approached and then entered orbit at the comet.
Rosetta update: Two close flybys of an increasingly active comet
In the two months since I last checked up on the Rosetta mission, the comet has heated up, displaying more and more jet activity. Rosetta completed very close flybys on February 14 and March 28, taking amazing photos. But comet dust is making navigation difficult, so the mission is now keeping a respectful distance from the comet and replanning its future path.
LPSC 2015: Philae at comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko
In my first post from the 2015 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, I discuss the latest work on Philae images, and some cometary polymers.
Adding Churyumov-Gerasimenko to my scale comparison of comets and asteroids
Having found a color photo of the comet, I finally added Churyumov-Gerasimenko to my scale comparison of comets and asteroids visited by spacecraft.
An active comet, from a distance
Rosetta has closed to within 50 kilometers of Churyumov-Gerasimenko, on its way to a very close, 6-kilometer flyby of the comet tomorrow. To prepare for the flyby, Rosetta traveled much farther away, allowing it to snap these amazing photos of an increasingly active comet from a great distance.
Rosetta shifts from sedate circular orbits to swooping flybys
For the period of time before and after the Philae landing, Rosetta was able to orbit the comet close enough that it was in gravitationally bound orbits, circling the comet's center of gravity. As the comet's activity increases, the spacecraft has to spend most of its time farther away, performing occasional close flybys. The first of these is at 6 kilometers, on February 14.
At last! A slew of OSIRIS images shows fascinating landscapes on Rosetta's comet
The first results of the Rosetta mission are out in Science magazine. The publication of these papers means that the OSIRIS camera team has finally released a large quantity of closeup images of comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, taken in August and September of last year. I explain most of them, with help from my notes from December's American Geophysical Union meeting.
Addressing some common questions about Comet Lovejoy
Lowell Observatory's Matthew Knight addresses several points of confusion that have repeatedly come up in the coverage of Comet Lovejoy.
Pretty Picture: Comet Lovejoy
Astrophotgrapher Adam Block shares an image of Comet Lovejoy, which is currently visible with binoculars.
New Churyumov-Gerasimenko Shapemodel!
Mattias Malmer shares his latest shape model of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, created using data from the Rosetta spacecraft.
Remember Comet Siding Spring? Mars Orbiter Mission got photos, too
A set of photos released by Mars Orbiter Mission last week completes the set of Mars spacecraft observations of the comet. Now we wait for science results!