COMET 67P is giving up its secrets. Philae, the probe that landed on its surface in November, has provided a wealth of data. But researchers are desperate for the probe to wake up again, because they have been left with as many questions as answers.
The latest pictures from Philae, taken during its descent, were released on Monday at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas. They suggest that what looked like the kind of wind-blown dunes you see on Earth might really be created by jets of gas moving dust on the comet’s surface.
Other pictures, taken after Philae landed, show the comet’s surface is partly made up of tiny pebbles.
The spacecraft is unlikely to be warm enough to wake up until May, when the seasons change on 67P and its dark side is illuminated – Philae is thought to be just on the wrong side of the dividing line.
This article appeared in print under the headline “Comet mysteries”