The European Space Agency has reported that spacecraft Rosetta has made its “closest-ever encounter” with a comet.
Rosetta came within 6 kilometers (a little over 3.7 miles to us — are we ever going to get on the metric system? Geesh.) of the comet, affectionately dubbed Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasemenko.
The flyby happened on Valentine’s Day, and ESA released this video explaining its significance earlier this week. According to the ESA, Rosetta is no longer orbiting the comet only doing a series of flybys to “continue its science.”
The flyby offers incredible close-up views of the comet never seen before. And while Rosetta has mapped about 70 percent of the comet’s surface, it’s the agency’s goal to continue mapping it this year, a tricky task due to its rotation and darkness in some areas. The comet’s peak of activity is set to come this summer, when Rosetta will “observe, measure and record a spectacular event.”
In the meantime, enjoy these views.