Event
Dawn of the Comet Lander: Philae and Rosetta Make HistoryPost an Event »
Chabot Space and Science Center
November 12 - November 12, 2014Info
1000 Skyline Boulevard Oakland, CA 94619 Google Map »
Rosetta is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) comet-chasing spacecraft, launched into the skies over a decade ago. In August, it rendezvoused with the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko comet after a 4-billion mile trip. It’s giant solar arrays outstretched like wings, Rosetta is collecting samples and studying the gasses and dust near the comet (even snapping a selfie). But on November 12, the spacecraft will deliver its payload and attempt the first-ever soft landing on a comet with the Philae lander.
Comets are known to contain ancient material leftover from the formation of the solar system. These icy bodies are even suspected of bringing the first water to Earth billions of years ago—could they have also brought life? Rosetta and Philae’s mission is to study the comet’s make-up and search for clues about the history of the heavens and the origins of life on Earth.
Join us at Chabot Space & Science Center to witness the historic landing of Philae and hear from experts live in Europe and the US.
Program
6:00 am doors open, breakfast provided by swissnex San Francisco
6:30 am introduction by Ben Burress, Chabot staff astronomer
6:45 am live Skype with Kathrin Altwegg from the European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt
7:30 am expected landing time of Philae (Communication delay included)
Note: Because of the difficulty of the mission, this schedule is subject to change.
Consider carpooling to the event!