67P/Churyumov-GERASIMENKO - A Comet with a diversity of surface structures

67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko - Credits: ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM

67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the most photographed comet of all times, shows on the last Rosetta shootings a diversity of surface structures

In the image, the comet’s head (in the top half of the image) exhibits parallel linear features that resemble cliffs, and its neck displays scattered boulders on a relatively smooth, slumping surface. 

In comparison, the comet's body (lower half of the image) seems to exhibit a multi-variable terrain with peaks and valleys, and both smooth and rough topographic features.

Comets are time capsules containing primitive material left over from the epoch when the sun and its planets formed. 

Observations planned for this mission will help scientists learn more about the origin and evolution of our solar system, and the role comets may have played in seeding Earth with water. Rosetta's lander will obtain the first images taken from a comet's surface and will provide the first analysis of a comet's composition by drilling into the surface. 

Let's see if we have more clues about what happened on the Big Bang.

Credits: Nasa