Rosetta: Earth’s true colours


Earth's true colours
 
Earth's true colours
 
20 November 2007
 
True colour images of Earth as seen by Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera are now available. The pictures were taken on 13 November during the swing-by, and on 15 November, as Rosetta left on its way to the outer Solar System, after the swing-by.
 
After its closest approach to Earth, Rosetta looked back and took a number of images using the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC). This particular image was acquired 15 November 2007 at 03:30 CET.

The image above is a colour composite of the NAC orange, green and blue filters.

At the bottom, the continent of Australia can be seen clearly.

During the swing-by, OSIRIS observed Earth’s night-side.
 
 
Earth from Rosetta's position
   
Earth from Rosetta's position
 




This image shows a simulated view of Earth as seen from Rosetta's position.
  
 
 The same view was seen by the OSIRIS Wide Angle Camera (WAC). It is shown in false colour to emphasise city lights seen at night.

This image was acquired on 13 November 2007 at 20:30 CET using the WAC with a red filter.
  
 
Earth at night
 
Earth at night
 
 
 
 •  ESA's comet chaser (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/index.html)
 •  Space Operations &
Situational Awareness (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/index.html)

Related ESApod

 •  Rosetta swing-by update (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMDJF53R8F_index_0.html)
 •  Rosetta Earth swing-by (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESApod/SEM0F253R8F_0.html)

For the media

 •  Media Press Kit (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMJ09374OD_1_spk.html)
 •  Rosetta 2nd Earth swing-by Q & A (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMUZ053R8F_index_0.html)

Related articles

 •  The Moon and Europe - Rosetta OSIRIS images (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMIO263R8F_index_0.html)
 •  Rosetta: OSIRIS’ view of Earth by night (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEM3HV53R8F_index_0.html)
 •  Cities at night: Extraordinary Rosetta images (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9MQ53R8F_index_0.html)
 •  Images of Earth and Moon captured by Rosetta (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMXWN53R8F_index_0.html)
 •  Rosetta swing-by a success (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMEFN53R8F_index_0.html)
 •  Rosetta right on track for Earth swing-by (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMCQH53R8F_index_0.html)
 •  Rosetta closes in on Earth – a second time (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMC20VOM8F_index_0.html)
 •  Boosting the accuracy of Rosetta's Earth approach (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMKB9JJX7F_index_0.html)