The Rosetta Downlink and Archive group are pleased to announce the release of over 4000 OSIRIS images to the Archive Image Browser and the Planetary Science Archive.

An Archive Science Review was successfully held in February resulting the need for some improvements in the data and metadata being delivered by the Rosetta instruments, some of which have been taken into account in this OSIRIS release.

The release covers the period 16 September – 19 December 2014 and includes narrow- and wide-angle camera images from Rosetta’s close observation phase when the spacecraft was just 8 km from the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, as well as pre- and post-landing imagery.

OSIRIS NAC images taken from around 30 km in September 2014. Credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

Examples of OSIRIS NAC images taken from around 30 km in September 2014. Credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

They show the astonishing detail of the comet surface at close range, including images used to help characterise Philae’s landing site at Agilkia.

The image set also includes incredible views of Philae drifting across the surface of the comet on 12 November 2014 as it approached Agilkia and then bounced out of view. One example is shown below – can you spot Philae? (Hint: check against the image mosaic of Philae’s journey across the surface released after landing here).

Can you spot Philae in this image taken during the landing on 12 November 2014? Credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

Can you spot Philae in this image taken during the landing on 12 November 2014? Credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

The new images can be found in the folders labelled MTP007, MTP008, MTP009 and MTP010.