Spectacular approach images to asteroid Lutetia!

[dennilfloss]

The Rosetta spacecraft is back in communication with Earth after a close flyby of ~100km asteroid Lutetia.

Flyby animated images: http://webservices.esa.int/blog/gallery/5/Lutetia_approach.gif

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

It's coming right for us!

 

[GrumpyMan]

I could of sworn I saw Bruce Willis sitting there by a drilling rig.....must be my imagination.

 

[marvdmartian]

So did they figure out where to land, to drill and place the nuclear weapon?? I figure that's why they really had to postpone the last 2 shuttle missions, so they can secretly take care of this little global killer. :hmm:

 

[IronWing]

$500 million and no one said "Hey, maybe we should use an auto-focus camera?" My cellphone takes better pics.

 

[Crusty]

$500 million and no one said "Hey, maybe we should use an auto-focus camera?" My cellphone takes better pics.

Of something 100km away? 🙄🙄🙄🙄

 

[SagaLore]

$500 million and no one said "Hey, maybe we should use an auto-focus camera?" My cellphone takes better pics.

No kidding. Plus they don't even have a pesky atmosphere to deal with.

 

[IronWing]

Of something 100km away? 🙄🙄🙄🙄

If they were going to use a fixed focus camera at least they could have set it for infinity and beyond.

 

[feralkid]

It's coming right for us!

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

 

[Balt]

A white tonsillolith. Spectacular, indeed.

 

[sandorski]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

zSzhziztz, zIz'zm zozuztztza zazmzmzoz

 

[dennilfloss]

More pics.

http://webservices.esa.int/blog/blog/5

 

[DrPizza]

100km is "close"???
We've had spacecraft actually land on asteroids.

 

[OCGuy]

I dont wanna close my eyes...

 

[Mike Gayner]

.gif? Really? Come back when it's on Youtube plx.

 

[runestone]

More pics.

http://webservices.esa.int/blog/blog/5

Some great images there, thanks for the link.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

We've had spacecraft actually land on asteroids.

You mean Japan has 😛

The distance was about 3000km, not 100km

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I created a 1920*1200 version of this for my wallpaper if anyone wants it.

 

[Oceanas]

You mean Japan has 😛

NEAR Shoemaker did it first in '01. It just wasn't meant to come back after.

 

[dawp]

You mean Japan has 😛

The distance was about 3000km, not 100km

SO did NEAR, tho it wasn't designed to.

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/near_archive.html

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Oh cool I hadn't heard about NEAR. Interesting.