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This Astronomy Picture of the Day features a 3D stereo anaglyph image of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, captured by the Rosetta spacecraft's OSIRIS camera on July 25, 2015, from a distance of 184 kilometers. The image shows the comet's distinctive double-lobed nucleus with a larger 4-kilometer lobe connected to a smaller 2.5-kilometer lobe, with numerous jets emanating from its active surface near perihelion. The Rosetta mission concluded in September 2016 with a controlled impact onto the comet's surface, and nearly 1,400 stereo anaglyph images from the mission are available in an online catalog.
Why it matters
The Rosetta mission provided unprecedented close-up observations of a comet's structure and activity, advancing our understanding of these primitive solar system objects and their behavior as they approach the Sun. The extensive catalog of 3D images offers valuable scientific data for studying cometary geology and outgassing processes.
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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 your red/blue glasses and float next to the jagged and double-lobed nucleus of Churyumov-Gerasimenko, also known as Comet 67P . The stereo anaglyph was created by combining two images from the Rosetta spacecraft’s narrow angle OSIRIS camera taken on July 25, 2015 from a distance of 184 kilometers. Numerous jets are emanating from the small solar system world’s active surface near its closest approach to the Sun. The larger lobe is around 4 kilometers in diameter, joined to a smaller, 2.5 kilometer diameter lobe by a narrow neck. Rosetta’s mission to the comet ended in September 2016 when the spacecraft was commanded to a controlled impact with the comet’s surface . Keep those 3D glasses on though. You can check out a catalog of nearly 1400 stereo anaglyphs created from Rosetta image data on this website.
Tomorrow’s picture: open space
| Date | October 17, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Credit: | ESA , Rosetta , MPS , OSIRIS – Stereo Anaglyph: Philippe Lamy and The Team |
| Authors & editors: | Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Robert Nemiroff, Keighley Rockcliffe |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |
Source: APOD: 2026 October 17 – 3D 67P