Rosetta Data Reveals 3D View of Comet 67P Near Perihelion
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day features a 3D stereo anaglyph of Comet 67P, created from images taken by the Rosetta spacecraft in 2015. The visualization highlights the comet's active surface and jets near its closest approach to the Sun.
Key points
- The image is a stereo anaglyph created by combining two photos from the Rosetta spacecraft's OSIRIS camera.
- The photos were taken on July 25, 2015, from a distance of 184 kilometers from the comet.
- Comet 67P, also known as Churyumov-Gerasimenko, has a double-lobed nucleus with a larger lobe of 4 kilometers and a smaller lobe of 2.5 kilometers.
- The image shows numerous jets emanating from the comet's surface near its closest approach to the Sun.
- The Rosetta mission ended in September 2016 with a controlled impact on the comet's surface.
Background
This feature is part of NASA's ongoing Astronomy Picture of the Day series, which has recently highlighted other astronomical events, including the August 2026 lunar and solar eclipses. The current image draws from a catalog of nearly 1,400 stereo anaglyphs created from Rosetta data.
Why it matters
The image provides a detailed, three-dimensional view of a small solar system body, illustrating the dynamic activity of comets as they approach the Sun. It serves as a lasting record of the Rosetta mission, which concluded in 2016.
What to watch
The APOD series will feature an image of open space on October 18, 2026.
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