Nov 13, 2014 12:28 PM

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

ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA
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This incredible image was taken by the Philae lander of one of its legs resting on the comet's surface.
ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA
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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.

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

ESA/Rosetta/Philae/ROLIS/DLR
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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.
ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA
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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.

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

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

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

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

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