Science & Technology: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: "
26-Mar-2004 05:13:19 UT


67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Rosetta was originally intended to rendezvous with the periodic comet 46P/Wirtanen, but, after the launch was delayed, the target was changed to another regular visitor to the inner Solar System, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Diameter of nucleus - estimated (km)3 x 5
Rotation Period (hours)~12
Orbital period (years)6.57
Perihelion distance from Sun (million km)194 (1.29 AU)
Aphelion distance from Sun (million km)858 (5.74 AU)
Orbital eccentricity0.632
Orbital inclination (degrees)7.12
Year of discovery1969
DiscoverersKlim Churyumov &
Svetlana Gerasimenko"

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