New comet shape model

A new 3D shape model of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has been released by ESA’s Rosetta archive team today. The model includes images taken by Rosetta’s NAVCAM up until mid-late July 2015, and reveals parts of the comet’s southern hemisphere that were not included in earlier shape models. The release also includes .WRL, OBJ, STL files, which can be used for 3D printing. At the same time, 681 images have been added to the Archive Image Browser covering the period 6 May to 30 June 2015 as part of ESA’s regular monthly release of NAVCAM images. During this period the comet was heading towards perihelion on 13 August, the closest point to the Sun along its orbit, and so the images capture some details of the comet's increasing activity. Taking into account the upcoming seasonal holiday, the next NAVCAM archive release will be made early-mid January 2016. For background information on what a shape model is, read our blog post: A shape model – what’s that?  We hope you enjoy using the updated shape model – do let us know if you've used it for your own projects, or if you have any questions about it, by writing in the comment box below.

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