some images of Philae - old and recent

a piddling 1½ miles off the predicted splashdown point


I saw the above remark following the Orion test-flight and thought again about the incredible landing of Philae. In the summer, landing site "J" was selected on the smaller lobe of 67P C-G and the field was narrowed down to an ellipse of approx 1 X 1 km square.

This image is from the NavCam on Sep 21:

From September 15:

Look closely at the white boulder:

Above is Wednesday November 12. For comparison, without the "+":
(from Oct 17)

Can you see where I marked the landing?

And so: where is it?
(from Dec 7 NavCam)

I am afraid that this is getting big. However, I want to show you the harpoons

And where they are located under Philae:

And now let us put the pieces together:

And the initial touch down was within 40m of the target selected back in September. And Orion could only do within 3Km?
Philae probably had a measure of luck that the harpoons did not fire - the surface of 67P is much harder than anticipated so a recoil might have been expected. If the retrothruster had cut in Philae might have been a pancake. We may have to wait for a few months to see whether Philae can continue. However, when I asked in 2012 if the lifetime were of the order of 40 hours I was told that if Philae worked 40 hours "they" would be happy. Scientists being scientists - if you give them 40, they will want 40 more. And let us not forget Rosetta with 11 experiments running - planned for at least another 12 months. Much to be thankful for, much to anticipate. wob

Thursday Morning coming down

Just a beautiful morning:

Complete with air conditioning:

Followed by canoeing:

To Tudhope Park:

Time flies when you are having fun:

Reminds me I still have some impressions from Philae. wob

We have friends AND relatives in Germany AND Florida who are having a great time this weekend, and who are wondering what

Vicki and I have been doing. Well it is winter here, rock and ice and snow like a certain comet! here are some imnpressions from an hour north of Orillia

 It was -9C sunny calm, maybe 15cm snow. And I did not overload your email! Have a good week -wob

May 28 and April 6 2014

It is getting to be that time of year - again! friends in Germany commented on my "winter" emails. I am really OK with snow. I actually enjoy the contrast and change each season brings - I missed this in Germany, as do some friends there who told me in 1971:"Rather a winter in Chile (July), than no summer at all!" (In Bochum)

                                               Same bench and trail, but not the same "me".
This bench is about 6-7km southish from the previous entry, Uhthoff Trail/Quarry and is approximately at the level of the "18" road marker on the map and about 10+km from where I live.

Uhthoff Trail snowy quarry

DE-land has been experiencing some wintery conditions; so I thought I would walk for an hour out and back from the quarry on the Uhthoff Trail. The elevation is approx 201m - Lake Couchiching is at 218m, and in 30km one would reach Georgian Bay at 176m.