On August 13 the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet will be making its closest approach to the sun in its 6.5 year orbit — and it will have Rosetta in tow. This will be the first time a comet has entered perihelion with a human spacecraft present to observe the event.
67P’s Journey Around the Sun
The comet, which was recently reported to contain the building blocks of life, makes its way around the sun every 6.5 years. Philae, the lander from the Rosetta spacecraft, met up with 67P about 336 million miles from the center of the solar system, after traveling a whopping 75,000 miles per hour to reach it. Now the two are set to arrive at perihelion, a point in a comet’s orbit where it’s closest to the sun, on August 13.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), this is a very important moment in every comet’s life. In fact, some comets don’t make it past the event and are destroyed. For Philae and 67P, this is an especially important event since it will be the first time a comet has entered perihelion with a lander in tow.
What Happens in Perihelion
For 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, life closer to the sun is certainly more active. Since Philae landed on the comet, things have warmed up due to an increase in exposure to solar energy. This is causing some of the ice on the comet to evaporate, creating a hazy atmosphere around 67P.
Some comets end up orbiting too close to the Sun and end up being destroyed by it; these types of comets are called ‘sungrazers’. 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko will actually be further away from the sun than Earth is, so it’s in no danger of biting the bullet.
Rosetta Will Be Operating From a Safe Distance During Perihelion
The last time 67P completed its perihelion was on February 28, 2009. On that date, and prior orbits, the comet experienced the event relatively trouble free. This year’s event is expected to also proceed smoothly with Rosetta following the comet at a safe enough distance to ensure nothing problematic occurs as the pair head back out into the outer reaches of the solar system. After, Rosetta will continue to study 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as it hurtles its way around the sun.
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