Cosmic Scale
Comet 67P
Churyumov–Gerasimenko · Orbits the Sun every 6.4 years
How big is Comet 67P?
Comet 67P is about 4.0 km across.
See Comet 67P in 3D, at true scale
67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko is a comet shaped like a rubber duck, two lumps joined by a neck. ESA's Rosetta orbited it for two years from 2014 and dropped the Philae lander onto its surface — the first landing on a comet.
At a glance
| Diameter | 4.0 km |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.00 × 10¹³ kg |
| Diameter compared with Earth | 0.000 × Earth |
| Size | About 4 km long |
| Orbit | 6.4 years |
| Visited | Rosetta and Philae, 2014–2016 |
| Density | About half that of water |
Good to know
- Philae bounced twice and came to rest in a shadow, but still sent back data.
- Its water has a different mix of hydrogen types from Earth's oceans, so comets like it did not bring most of our water.
- Rosetta ended its mission by touching down on the comet in 2016.
- Next smaller: Bennu · 490 m
- Next larger: Halley's Comet · 11.0 km