Photos: Europe's Rosetta Comet Mission in Pictures

Asteroid Lutetia From Rosetta Spacecraft

This image of the asteroid Lutetia was taken by the European Space Agency's Rosetta probe during its closest approach in July 2010. Lutetia, which is about 60 miles across, seems to be a leftover fragment of the same original material that formed the Earth, Venus and Mercury. It is now part of the main asteroid belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but its composition suggests that it was originally much closer to the sun.

Rosetta and Philae at Comet #2

Artist’s impression of the Rosetta orbiter deploying the Philae lander to comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. After an extensive mapping phase by the orbiter in August–September 2014, a landing site will be selected for Philae to conduct in situ measurements in November 2014. Image released Dec. 19, 2013.

Asteroid Lutetia in Four Parts

These four images show the final sequence of images taken by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft on July 10, 2010 during its flyby of the asteroid.

Groovy Asteroid Lutetia Craters

The European Rosetta spacecraft spotted grooved terrain and craters on along the surface of the asteroid Lutetia during a July 10, 2010 flyby of the object in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Asteroid Lutetia Seen by OSIRIS July 2010 2

OSIRIS clear filter image taken during the flyby of the Rosetta spacecraft at asteroid Lutetia on July 10, 2010.

Landslide on Lutetia?

This image from the European Rosetta spacecraft zooms in on a possible landslide on the asteroid Lutetia, revealing boulders and other surface features seen during a July 10, 2010 flyby of the asteroid.

Asteroid Lutetia Seen by OSIRIS July 2010 1

OSIRIS clear filter image taken during the flyby of the Rosetta spacecraft at asteroid Lutetia on July 10, 2010.

asteroid-lutetia-big-100710-02.jpg

This enlarged view of photo of the asteroid Lutetia is one of the closest views ever of the asteroid. It was taken by Europe's comet probe Rosetta from 80,000 km away during a July 10, 2010 flyby.

Asteroid Lutetia: Target in Sight

These photos show several images of asteroid Lutetia as the Rosetta spacecraft closed in on July 10, 2010 during a flyby. The first image was taken about 9.5 hours before closest approach, 510,000 kilometers from the asteroid, the last one about 1.5 hours before closest approach, 81,000 km from the asteroid. The resolution changes from 9.6 km per pixel to 1.5 km per pixel.

Mysterious Asteroid Unmasked By Space Probe Flyby

This photo of the asteroid Lutetia is one of the closest views ever of the asteroid. It was taken from a distance of about 80,000 km during a July 10, 2010 flyby by Europe's comet probe Rosetta. Full Story.