Scientists to get ringside view as comet 67P reaches closest point to Sun

Robot probe Rosetta could provide dramatic images as 67P reaches perihelion, its orbital highpoint - and threatens to break up

European scientists are preparing to celebrate an unusual midsummer festival - on a comet that is currently 165 million kilometres from Earth. The comet, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, is set to reach the closest point to the Sun in its 6.5-year orbit on Thursday and Europe's robot probe Rosetta is poised to provide scientists with a ringside view.

The spaceship has already been in orbit around Comet 67P for a year and has studied dust and gas as they have started to erupt from its surface as it has approached the Sun. On Thursday, when the comet reaches perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, that activity will reach its peak.