Gallery: Incredible New Photos Taken From the Surface of a Comet

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    ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA
    01

    ESA-Rosetta-Philae-CIVA-141113-1

    This incredible image was taken by the Philae lander of one of its legs resting on the comet's surface.
  • This is the first 360degree panorama shot released from the Philae lander. The view was captured by the CIVAP imaging...
    ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA
    02

    First-comet-panoramic

    This is the first 360-degree panorama shot released from the Philae lander. The view was captured by the CIVA-P imaging system. Parts of Philae’s landing gear can be seen. The next image in the gallery is a sketch of the lander superimposed on this photo.
  • This image is a sketch of the lander superimposed on the previous photo.
    ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA
    03

    15756945086-ac248055ee-h (1)

    This image is a sketch of the lander superimposed on the previous photo.
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    ESA/Rosetta/Philae/ROLIS/DLR
    04

    Comet-from-40-metres

    This photo was captured by Philae's downward-looking ROLIS camera from about 40 meters above the surface of the comet as the lander descended.
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    ESA/Rosetta/Philae/ROLIS/DLR
    05

    15774234245-f7bacd710b-o

    The image shows the comet as seen by Philae's ROLIS instrument on the during descent from about 3 Kilometers away. Resolution is about 3 meters per pixel.
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    ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA
    06

    15587895747-4e4d99a11d-o

    Philae took this shot of its mothership Rosetta shortly after separation from about 10 meters away with the lander’s CIVA-P imaging system. It shows almost the full length of one of Rosetta's 14 meter-long solar wings.
  • Rosetta took this parting shot of the Philae lander as it began its 7hour descent to the comet's surface.
    ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
    07

    15587569219-a90313e81b-h

    Rosetta took this parting shot of the Philae lander as it began its 7-hour descent to the comet's surface.
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    ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
    08

    15153988173-4307418d01-o

    A full-frame parting shot from Rosetta.
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    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    09

    15739982196-7242ac0244-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
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    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    10

    15765234852-c16c4097a5-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
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    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    11

    15761799141-6f102d8a1e-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Rock Cliff Mountain Peak and Mountain Range
    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    12

    15578512627-908f78d690-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
  • Image may contain Mountain Range Mountain Outdoors Nature Peak Rock and Cliff
    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    13

    15765224912-558e6c1682-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
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    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    14

    15578871060-9f0a5ec602-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
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    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    15

    15144270753-a130c6068b-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
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    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    16

    15761800051-893fc0421b-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
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    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    17

    15763681495-71537b5cc1-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Soil Rock Art Painting Sand and Mountain
    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    18

    15739966376-f60cded473-o

    Image of the comet taken by Rosetta from 10 kilometers away.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Planet and Globe
    ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
    19

    15571168737-ee1e900272-o

    This photo of the original planned landing site was taken by Rosetta just days before its lander Philae began the descent.
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