An image taken earlier this month – 4 June – by Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera, shows comet 67P/C-G has quietened. It is the most recent full-resolution image from the narrow-angle sensor, and was taken with 430 000 km between the spacecraft and comet.

Strikingly, there is no longer any sign of the extended dust cloud that was seen developing around nucleus at the end of April and into May. Indeed, monitoring of the comet has shown a significant drop in its brightness since then.

Read the full story: Rosetta’s comet: expect the unexpected

 

Comet 67P/C-G on 4 June. Credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

Comet 67P/C-G on 4 June. Credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA