Rosetta: When can we see the comet?

Visualisation of how comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko will appear in Rosetta's OSIRIS narrow angle camera between May and August 2014. During this time, the 4 kilometre-wide comet will 'grow' in Rosetta's field of view from appearing to have a diameter of less than 1 camera pixel to well over 2000 pixels -- equivalent to a resolution of around 2 metres per pixel -- allowing the large surface features to be resolved.

The comet featured in this animation is an artist's impression. It is shown to scale, but the shape and surface details are only representative. In addition, the real comet will be rotating during Rosetta's approach. The planets are not to scale.

Credits: ESA-C. Carreau