King's Lynn and District Astronomy Society

Promoting astronomy for all ages across West Norfolk

  • Home
  • Events
  • Membership
  • Club Equipment
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Contact Us
    • Committee
  • Links

The quest for organic molecules on the surface of Comet 67P/C-G

2nd December 2014 by KLADAS

For scientists engaged with large complex projects like Rosetta, there is always a delightful period early on when, unbound by practical realities, it is possible to dream. And so it was that at one time the scientists were thinking about having a lander with the capability to hop around a comet’s surface. In this way it would be possible to make measurements from different parts of the comet.

Interestingly, this unplanned opportunity presented itself on 12 No-vember 2014, when Philae landed not once but three times on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

The Ptolemy instrument on Philae is a compact mass spectrometer designed to measure the composition of the materials making up 67P/C-G, with a particular focus on organic molecules and mineral compo-nents. Earlier in 2014, Ptolemy had collected data at distances of 15,000, 13,000, 30, 20, and 10 km from the comet, while Philae was still attached to Rosetta.

This short excerpt is from an ESA blog from the Ptolemy team, you can read more at the following link.

Filed Under: Space News

About KLADAS

Forthcoming Events

  1. Vikings at Barsoom (Part 2) – Paul Money

    Mon 25 Jan @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
  2. How to set up your telescope – Alan Gosling

    Mon 8 Feb @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
  3. The Science behind Astrophotography – Charlotte Daniels

    Mon 22 Feb @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
  4. Apollo 13 – Dave Talbot

    Mon 8 Mar @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

View All Events

Our Latest News

Effects of the Covid 19 virus

Due to the current situation regarding the Covid 19 virus, we have taken the decision to suspend all ... Read More

GCSE Astronomy at Springwood High School

Last Summer we were asked if we could assist with the launch of a GCSE Astronomy Course at ... Read More

A DAY AT SCHOOL

Alan Gosling and John Craythorne went back to school for a day on 8th March. We were invited to ... Read More

Contact Us

t: Alan Gosling on 01553 774394

© Copyright 2017 King's Lynn and District Astronomy Society | Member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies
Patron: Sir Henry Bellingham MP