Candidate landing site B

Five candidate sites were identified on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during the Landing Site Selection Group meeting held 23–24 August 2014.

This image shows a zoom into candidate site B, which is located within the crater-like structure on the smaller lobe. This site is considered relatively safe for landing given the flat terrain, but illumination conditions may pose a problem when considering the longer-term science planning of the lander. Higher-resolution imaging will be used to assess the boulder hazards in more detail. In addition, the boulders are also thought to represent more recently processed material and therefore this site may not be as pristine as other sites.

The image was taken with Rosetta’s OSIRIS narrow angle camera on 16 August, from a distance of about 100 km. The frame is about 1 km across and is centred on the mid-point of the landing ellipse. The image resolution is 1.85 m per pixel.

The letter designation does not indicate a ranking; this will be completed on 14 September when a primary and backup site will be selected. Philae’s landing is provisionally planned for 11 November; the date will be confirmed in mid-October.

Credit: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA