Using a camera included in the Comet Infrared and Visible Analyser (CIVA) of its lander Philae, a few days ago the Rosetta space probe took a really special selfie. On October 7, it was at a distance of about 16 km (about 10 miles) from the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which appears in the background of the photo, above one of the spacecraft’s solar panels.
In fact, the resulting image is a combination of two photographs with different exposure times. Their processing allowed to bring out faint details in a situation of high contrast. The “neck” of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is visible and shows some activity, which will intensify as it approaches the Sun.
CIVA is much more than a single instrument since it’s composed of a set of cameras of various types called CIVA-P and CIVA-M that can take visible light and infrared pictures. This selfie is the last picture taken by the lander Philae before it begins its descent to the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
The Philae lander is equipped with 10 instruments that will allow it to analyze the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in a way never seen before. The CIVA will start taking photographs after the separation of Philae from the Rosetta space probe. Using various cameras installed on its top, it will capture panoramic images of the landing site on the comet.
Almost exactly a month ago the site where Philae will land on the comet was selected. Initially, this operation was scheduled for November 11 but subsequently ESA chose November 12 for this truly extraordinary mission. This decision was made after analyzing the trajectory of the Rosetta spacecraft, with its complicated maneuvers around the comet.
Last month, a backup site was also chosen in the event that new, closer, analyzes of the primary site showe dangers not noticed before. The announcement of the final decision from the ESA’s team that runs the Rosetta mission is scheduled for today.
Edit. ESA confirmed that Philae will land in the site indicated with the letter J.
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