Rosetta's comet is a contact binary!

[Suzy]

Leaked information making big news across facebook today.

The comet, Churyumov-Gerasimenko is a contact binary!
This is the comet that Rosetta is heading to and will orbit in August and land in November. Very exciting news.

Landing could be more difficult as this form restricts potential landing zones, the article says.

E.S.A. will be releasing news of this in the next couple of days.

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2014/07150633-quick-rosetta-update.html

P.S. :hi: Hi guys, it's been a while since I've posted here. :)

[Regulus]

Thx Suze, this is going to be really interesting.

[astroron]

I hope it is not spinning too much and they will still find a place to land.
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Astro_Bot]

That is interesting news. Thanks for sharing. Just so long as we don't discriminate against any comets, whether they be straight, gay or binary. :P

[Suzy]

:lol::rofl:

[xelasnave]

This means to br clear we havr two objects.. or do I mids it. If two objects thid is extrodinary..er luck then .. I will get up to speed and read all avaialable Thankd Susythis is teal interesting

[Suzy]

You're welcome Alexander. Yes it's two objects alrighty! :eyepop:.

Here's a very cool animation:

http://i.imgur.com/4mClCsN.gifSociety

[xelasnave]

Thanks I suppose I needed to make sure because although the language was clear it seemed to me just so extrodinary there must be something I miss...Well just incredible..Thanksdinner is over back to research

[Suzy]

E.S.A. had something to say about that leak.

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/07/16/access-to-rosetta-data/

[ZeroID]

FRom what the article I read said, binaries are quite common in Comets, about 30% or so.
Could be it's a factor in that these things are dirty snowballs and collections of rubble so prone to fracture and seperation. Microgravity keeps them 'together' so you get a flying heap of rocks. This one could break up further or seperate as it goes round the sun just like a previous recent visitor.