Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, often shortened to 67P, is a short-period comet that orbits the Sun every 6.45 years. It was discovered on September 20, 1969, by the astronomers Klim Churyumov and Svetlana Gerasimenko at the Kiev University Observatory. Here are some detailed points about this comet:
Discovery and Naming
Physical Characteristics
- 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has a unique 'rubber duck' shape, consisting of two lobes connected by a narrow neck, which was revealed in detail by the Rosetta Mission.
- Its nucleus measures approximately 4.1 by 3.3 by 1.8 kilometers in size.
- The comet's surface is covered with dust, ice, and organic compounds, with many pits, cliffs, and boulders.
Orbital Characteristics
- 67P has a highly elliptical orbit that takes it from beyond the orbit of Jupiter to within the orbit of Mars.
- Its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) is about 1.24 astronomical units (AU), and its farthest point (aphelion) reaches approximately 5.7 AU.
- The comet's orbit was perturbed by a close approach to Jupiter in 1959, which changed its original 7.1-year orbit to the current 6.45-year period.
The Rosetta Mission
- In 2004, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Rosetta Mission to study this comet in detail.
- On August 6, 2014, Rosetta became the first spacecraft to orbit a comet, and on November 12, 2014, it deployed the Philae Lander to land on the comet's surface.
- The mission provided unprecedented data on the comet's composition, activity, and behavior, contributing to our understanding of the origins of the Solar System.
Scientific Significance
- Observations of 67P have helped scientists understand the processes that occur as comets approach the Sun, including outgassing, dust emission, and surface changes.
- The presence of organic compounds and water ice on the comet suggests that comets like 67P could have delivered water and the building blocks of life to Earth during its early history.
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