Fabulous! First OSIRIS image from Rosetta Earth approach
Image of the Earth acquired with the OSIRIS narrow-angle camera from a distance of 633 000 km on 12 November 2009 at 13:28 CET.
The resolution is 12 km/pixel.
The image is a part of a sequence of images taken every hour through one full rotation (24 hours). The movie will be published later.
Three images with an orange, green, and blue filter were combined to create this one. The illuminated crescent is centered roughly around the South Pole (South at the bottom of the image). The outline of Antarctica is visible under the clouds that form the striking south-polar vortex. Pack ice in front of the coastline with its strong spectacular reflection is the cause for the very bright spots on the image.
(Click image or here to access full-size version in our gallery)
Image credit: ESA © 2009 MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA













12-11-2009 • 21:27:54
Absolutely GORGEOUS image! Well done to everyone there. Really looking forward to more Earth portraits from this fly-by.
12-11-2009 • 20:09:32
I´ve been receiving news about the Rosetta for a long time and first of all i´d like to thank all you who have been working so hard on this thrilling project.
I´ve got to say that the photo is just...breathless, amazing.
Keep on the awesome job.
12-11-2009 • 18:58:51
I have been following this very ambitious mission from day one, and the very delayed earth departure due the Ariane maiden flight failure.
Good to see all is well.