European Scientists Conclude That Distant Comet Smells Terrible

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**Co'tor Shas**

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/24/358364942/european-scientists-conclude-that-distant-comet-smells-terrible

European Scientists Conclude That Distant Comet Smells Terrible

A European spacecraft orbiting a distant comet has finally answered a question we've all been wondering: What does a comet smell like?

"It stinks," says Kathrin Altwegg, a researcher at the University of Bern in Switzerland who runs an instrument called ROSINA that picked up the odor.

The European Space Agency has posted a full rundown of the comet's BO on its website. The mix includes ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and formaldehyde (CH2O).

Of course, anyone visiting the comet would be wearing a spacesuit (on top of that, the sense of smell is notoriously numb in space). Nevertheless, taking a whiff of this comet would be like sharing a horse barn with a drunk and a dozen rotten eggs.

"It's quite a smelly mixture," she says.

Why didn't we know comets smelled so bad before?

"That's mostly because we've never been that close to a comet," says Altwigg. The Rosetta mission is now just 5 miles from the comet's surface.

It's just like a person: You can't really get a good sense of their BO until you're right up next to them.

These chemicals are also clues to how the comet — and maybe how our solar system — formed. And for that reason, Altwigg doesn't really mind the stench.

"It's a little smelly, but at the moment it's a lot of fun to go to work every morning," she says.

Fun for now. But that could change. The comet is currently getting closer and closer to the sun. And like anything you leave out in the sun too long, it will soon start to smell even worse.

I just thought the title alone deserved a mention. Also, a kind of interesting story.

**streamdragon**

Good news everyone!

On topic though, it's really neat that we're getting lots more data on comets as they pass by our instruments. I so badly want to go into space.

**PhantomViper**

That ship travelled 6.437.376.000 kms (over 4 BILLION miles) in 10 years to reach that comet and has finally gotten close enough to analyse the molecules that are being released as the comet gets closer to the sun and some of its components start to evaporate. If everything goes according to plan, the Rosetta ship will launch a smaller probe called Philae that will actually land on the surface of the comet and transmit more data about its geological and chemical composition!

Its and extraordinary scientific achievement, so of course the media will only fixate on and talk about its more comical aspects...

**KingCracker**

streamdragon wrote:
Good news everyone!

On topic though, it's really neat that we're getting lots more data on comets as they pass by our instruments. I so badly want to go into space.

Oh Futurama........ I loved you.

**Minx**

ESA released a short film promoting the upcoming landing. It does not contain much information, it's nicely shot though:

The BBC has a short article about it as well.