Comet’s firework display ahead of perihelion / Rosetta / Space Science / Our Activities / ESA
http://www.esa.int/..._Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Comet_s_firework_display_ahead_of_perihelion
In the approach to perihelion over the past few weeks, Rosetta has been witnessing growing activity from Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, with one dramatic outburst event proving so powerful that it even pushed away the incoming solar wind.
The comet reaches perihelion on Thursday, the moment in its 6.5-year orbit when it is closest to the Sun. In recent months, the increasing solar energy has been warming the comet’s frozen ices, turning them to gas, which pours out into space, dragging dust along with it.