On Saturday, Rosetta swooped to within just 8.6 miles (14 km) of comet 67P's surface. During this close flyby, the probe was able to capture a stunning four image montage showing the two lobes of the icy comet in incredible detail. The top right frame offers a stunning view onto Hapi, the comet’s ‘neck’ region that is littered with boulders. As part of the recent moves around comet 67P, Rosetta swooped to within about 8.6 miles (14 km) of the comet’s surface on Saturday. Its camera was able to capture a four image montage scale at this distance is 1.7 m/pixel showing the large lobe of the icy comet to the left and the small lobe to the right . The view also gives a detailed look at the numerous, curved markings visible on the smooth surface. In the same frame, details in the cliffs of Hathor can be seen, leading up to the ‘head’ of the comet’s small lobe. The region towards the right of this frame shows the transition between this smooth, presumably dust-covered portion, and the layered, exposed cliffs below. The European Space Agency also recently released a trove ofimages captured by the Rosetta probe during its long journey to Comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko. This stunning scene was created from two Rosetta frames acquired at 12 miles (19.9 km) from the comet centre on 28 March. The scale is about 1.7 m/pixel and the image measures 3.1 x 1.7 km . The top right frame offers a stunning view onto Hapi, the comet’s ‘neck’ region littered with boulders. The scale at this distance is 1.4 m/pixel . They include images of Earth and Mars which were taken when the probe was attempting ‘gravity assist manoeuvres’ in which it used other planets to slingshot its way towards the comet. As Rosetta makes an adventurous passes through the geysers of comet in the coming months, scientists hope to discover more information about the comet’s interior from the jets. The Rosetta probe, which was carrying Philae, launched into space in 2004, using the gravity of Earth and Mars to slingshot its way towards comet 67P. It chased comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko through space for more than ten years, and entered orbit in August 2014. After a four billion mile (6.5 billion km) journey, the probe then successfully released the Philae lander from its grip to land on the comet on 12 November 2014, travelling at 3.3ft (one metre) per second relative to the comet. But when it first made contact with the surface it failed to fire harpoons that would have kept it attached to the comet. This resulted in it bouncing to a height of 0.62 miles (1km) above the comet before again landing on the surface. It then bounced again, but to a much lower altitude. Philae managed to perform more than 90 per cent of its goals before running out of power. Rosetta, meanwhile, is continuing to orbit and study the comet. From data collected by the two proves, Esa said that water on the comet was different to that on Earth - suggesting water on our world came from an asteroid, not a comet. And with the comet becoming more active as it approaches the sun, these next few months are providing the best opportunity yet to study the comet - but it is not without risk. ‘The comet is getting super exciting,’ said Esa’s Rosetta project scientist Dr Matt Taylor in The Times. ‘Hundreds of kilos per second of material is flinging off it. We want to a do a fly-by through one of these active regions.’ The probe will be brought within nine miles (15km) of the comet, with its path taking it right through 67P’s geysers. These jets are formed when ice on the surface sublimates - or vapourises - and they become more active as the comet approaches the sun. It is getting closer and closer over the next few months, with its point of closest approach taking place in August. As it becomes more active, Rosetta has a fantastic opportunity to sweep through the increasingly large jets and gather data. In so doing, though, the probe can become disorientated. It relies on seeing stars to know where it is, but the jets can obscure its view. This means that, occasionally, the spacecraft has to take evasive actions when it passes through a jet, to get itself into empty space and re-orientate itself relative to the stars. But studying the jets could reveal vital data on how gas and dust flows out from the surface, and it could also reveal the connection between the comet’s atmosphere - its coma - and the surface. As the comet gets closer to the sun, scientists will also be hoping to hear from the Philae lander on the surface. The washing machine-sized Philae probe gripped the imaginations of the world when it landed on comet 67P on 12 November 2014. But after making two unscheduled bounces on the surface, the probe landed in an unknown location and ran out of power. The European Space Agency also recently released a trove of images captured by the Rosetta probe during its long journey to Comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Seen here is Rosetta's view of Earth on March 5th, 2005 . The latest images include ones of Earth and Mars which were taken when the probe was attempting ‘gravity assist manoeuvres’ in which it used other planets to slingshot its way towards the comet. Pictured is Mars as seen by Rosetta in 2007 . Now, as the comet approaches the sun, it is hoped that solar rays will recharge Philae’s batteries and bring it back to life. Earlier in March scientists sent commands to the lander in the hope it would respond, but with no luck. On 14 April they will make another attempt to get in contact - and, if it stirs from its slumber, Philae will have a fantastic opportunity to study the comet as it reaches peak activity. Speaking about the most recent attempt to find the probe, Rosetta mission manager Patrick Martin told MailOnline: ‘We were trying to see if the lander would wake up and, at the same time, we sent some commands for the lander to better divide its weight and power situation. ‘We don’t yet know if the commands have gone through - we might have to wait a bit longer - but basically after one week we did not receive a signal from the lander.’ The main issue at the moment is that, for the lander simply to wake up, it needs enough sunlight to produce 5.5 watts of power - a temperature of around -45°C (-49°F). But to start communicating with Rosetta again the temperature needs to raise a few more degrees so it can generate 19 watts of power. It may have already reached the former level, which might mean it is already operational and able to receive signals - but we won’t hear anything until it boosts its power to the latter. The next few months are certain to be an exciting time, though - not just for Philae, but for the orbiting Rosetta spacecraft as well.
On Saturday, Rosetta was just 8.6 miles (14 km) of the comet’s surface . Images reveal one of most detailed photos of the comet's bump 'neck' Esa recently released a trove of images captured from Rosetta's journey . Rosetta will make passes through comet geysers in the coming months .