NEW IMAGES OF ROSETTA'S COMET

New images of comet 67P/C-G from the Rosetta probe appear to show the nucleus of the comet is two objects - a smaller 'head' connected by  a 'neck' to a larger 'body'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28460702

On 20 July Rosetta was about 5,500 km from the comet. The ESA probe is due to move into orbit on 6 August, when it will be 70 km from the surface of comet 67P,  a 4.5 km wide ball of ice.
Then surface mapping of the comet will help select a touchdown zone for a small landing robot called Philae in November.

Dr Holger Sierks from the Max-Planck-Institute in Germany said 'The only thing we know for sure at this point is that this neck region appears brighter compared to the head and the body of the nucleus.' The team say this could be due to a different surface composition or topography in the neck region.

Rosetta will be the first space mission to rendezvous with a comet, follow it and attempt to send a lander to its surface.

Comment: Fascinating detail of 67P from Rosetta which should increase our understanding of the nature of comets.