Comet might split in two after space probe finds huge crack in surface

A probe orbiting a comet hundreds of millions of kilometres from earth has discovered a crack in the comet’s surface, raising concerns it may split in two.

Last week the European Space Agency (ESA) published a series of articles in the journal Science revealing some of its findings since the Rosetta probe rendezvoused with the comet 67P/Churyumov/Gerasimenko in August last year.

The spacecraft Philae was released by the probe and landed on the comet’s surface in November.

Running along an area known as the Hapi region, the 500m long fissure is thought to be the result of the comet “flexing” itself as it nears the sun, as the star’s radiation drains gas and dust from the comet and weakens its structure.

The crack is also likely a result of the comet’s “rubber duckie” shape.

Scientists have speculated the comet might break apart if pressure from the sun is great enough.

However that point is still several months off.

The comet, first discovered in 1969, orbits the sun between the trajectories of Earth and Jupiter.

The Rosetta mission was launched in 2004 and traveled through space for a decade before arriving at the comet last year, in a historic feat for space exploration.