Rosetta lands safely on comet

[BobH]

OK. So I'm late to the thread, but I must ask how they could possibly have landed a spacecraft on a comet, which is made up of ice and space dust? An asteroid I could understand. It is a solid substance; but a comet?

Could someone please educate me?

[Rudi]

Could someone please educate me?

Might it be that the comet is shaped like a duck; and as far as I know, a duck is solid.

[HansV]

Judging by the pictures, the surface of the comet is rocky (although it's probably low-density rock).

[stuck]

Could someone please educate me?

Start here http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta

Ken

[ChrisGreaves]

I'd say that would be a grain of a grain of a grain of sand to hit a frozen avocado pip at a distance of 317.01 km

OK. You win. Stuck has convinced me that this is "no-argument week". (Let's see how long that lasts ...)

Of course, now I feel a faint blush to my cheeks on learning that
(a) it bounced
(b) the drills didn't "instanter" screw in to prevent it bouncing
(c) it is escaping the brutish heat of the sun by hiding under a cliff and hence
(d) for all I know it could be dead by the time I click Preview and then Submit.

[HansV]

The Philae lander has been turned off for the moment, since its batteries ran out. Perhaps it'll be revived when the comet is nearer the Sun - the solar cells may then be able to generate more energy.

[ChrisGreaves]

... as far as I know, a duck is solid.

Well!
That didn't take us very far, did it?

In Monty Python and The Holy Grail it was established as fact that a duck is made of wood.

[Rudi]

... as far as I know, a duck is solid.

Well!
That didn't take us very far, did it?

I know its not the most amazing fact Chris, but if you've ever eaten duck, you will know that it needs to be chewed before you swallow.

[StuartR]

...
I know its not the most amazing fact Chris, but if you've ever eaten duck, you will know that it needs to be chewed before you swallow.

I've never eaten a swallow either, I guess you have to duck before eating one of those.

[ChrisGreaves]

I've never eaten a swallow either, I guess you have to duck before eating one of those.

I suspect you'd have to duck if someone swallowed a duck too quickly ...

[Rudi]

I've never eaten a swallow either, I guess you have to duck before eating one of those.

I suspect you'd have to duck if someone swallowed a duck too quickly ...

Either duck or get behind them and give them a great big

[mishmish3000]

You're all being silly geese!

[HansV]

Geese? Swallowing a goose is more work than swallowing a duck...

[mishmish3000]

ScreenHunter_62 Nov. 21 09.53.gif

[Rudi]

Wow, that goose looks suspiciously similar to the shape of comet 67P/CG.

[BobH]

That's not Silly Goose; it's Groucho Goose!

"Say the secret word and the duck will come down and you win a hundred dollars."