A European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft captured an image that might blow you away. Taken from a distance of only 16 miles, Rosetta spacecraft's NAVCAM caught comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko releasing gas.
Four photos of the comet were taken and put together to provide another unique look at comet 67P up close. The focal point of the image shows what appears to be space gas emitting from the 2.5-mile wide neck of the comet. Defined pores and cracks are clearly seen on the comet's surface.
"What we're seeing is the product of ices sublimating and gases escaping from inside the comet carrying streams of dust out into space," the ESA wrote in the photo description. "As the comet gets progressively closer to the sun along its orbit, the surface will become warmer, and the level of activity will increase, producing a vast coma around the nucleus, along with a tail."
Comets commonly develop a second ion tail when radiation excites particles of gas, which cause them to glow.
The image of glowing gas particles of 67P were captured on Sept. 26; however, more images of glowing gas particles are expected to be captured in August 2015 when the comet reaches the closest point to the Sun.
Rosetta became the first probe to orbit a comet when it reached 67P in August. In its mission to gain a better understanding of our solar system and if the comets carried water to Earth, Rosetta discovered that the comet has a surface temperature of approximately 70 degrees Celsius.
Scientists anticipate making history again when Rosetta will deploy its probe Philae on Nov.12, making it the first robot to land on a comet.
