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WASHINGTON: New images of Comet 67P show a small glint of light that may just be the European Space Agency’s lost Philae lander, scientists say.
Philae was released by the comet probe Rosetta in November last year to land on the comet, but its final resting place has been unknown, and the lander has not been heard from since its batteries ran out of juice.
Philae, about the size of a home washing machine, bounced away from its intended landing site upon touching down on the 2.5-mile-wide comet, and efforts to locate its exact position have been unsuccessful.
ESA scientists have been poring over Rosetta images of the comet, hoping to spot the lander.
In the latest images, including some taken by Rosetta during its closest approaches to the comet’s surface, sharp eyes have detected some features that could be the AWOL lander, they say.
Five bright spots show up in the area where Philae is thought to have come to rest against a cliff wall.
