We love this photo from yesterday’s historic landing of the Philae probe on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It’s the first-ever soft landing on a comet, and it’s a tremendous achievement. News of the touchdown came after a night of uncertainty following the lander’s separation from its mothership, the Rosetta spacecraft. Scientists looked tired, but obviously relieved and very excited when Philae signaled it was in operation on the comet’s surface. We only hope these scientists caught a few winks yesterday, before plunging in again to work with stability issues and other issues from Philae on the comet’s surface.
Congratulations to ESA and all connected with this great mission!
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.
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