APOD: 2026 October 17 – 3D 67P
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 17… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 3D 67P Explanation: Put […]
On October 17, 2026, the Astronomy Picture of the Day featured a 3D image of Comet 67P, also known as Churyumov-Gerasimenko. This stereo anaglyph was produced by merging two photographs taken by the Rosetta spacecraft's narrow angle OSIRIS camera on July 25, 2015, when the spacecraft was positioned 184 kilometers away from the comet's nucleus.
The composite image highlights numerous jets emanating from the comet's surface, particularly near its closest approach to the Sun. The larger lobe of the comet measures approximately 4 kilometers in diameter, while the smaller lobe is around 2.5 kilometers in diameter. These two lobes are connected by a narrow neck. The Rosetta mission concluded in September 2016 with a controlled impact on the comet's surface.
Visitors are encouraged to use red/blue glasses to appreciate the 3D effect. Additional information can be found on the ESA's website, which boasts nearly 1400 stereo anaglyphs generated from Rosetta image data. The photograph is credited to ESA, Rosetta, MPS, and OSIRIS, with Philippe Lamy and The Team serving as the creators.
Written by urgent.news from NASA's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- APOD: 2026 October 17 – 3D 67P science.nasa.gov
