Perfect timing allowed Rosetta's imaging system to witness a dust jet shooting out from the surface of Comet 67P.

Over the recent weeks, Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has become increasingly active. As it draws closer to the Sun, its surface is heating up and releasing larger quantities of gas that carry dust particles into space.

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Even though its closest approach to the Sun will occur in four months, comet 67P is already enveloped by a coma. The dust escaping from its surface is clearly visible across the entire daylight side.

The dust jet recently discovered on the shadowed side of the comet poses entirely new questions for the scientists. It disperses dust at eight meters per second.

A newly released image shows the rare moment when a fresh dust jet emerges. Two images are the first to show the onset of a dust jet. Rosetta's OSIRIS imaging system took the images two minutes apart.

"This is the first time we have been able to observe the moment at which a new dust jet is born. These observations will help decipher cometary activity that we have been unable to fully understand thus far," said comet researcher Ekkehard Kührt, in-charge of the scientific contribution to the ESA Rosetta mission at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR).

This unique observation also provides the scientists with an opportunity to study the dust dispersal process. Researchers analyzed the brightness fluctuations along the unexpected dust jet.

The Rosetta spacecraft spent 10 years chasing down Comet 67P before reaching orbit and beginning its study of the space rock in August of last year.

Scientists are hoping Philae may wake up as the comet nears the sun. Meanwhile, Rosetta's science mission continues to deliver fascinating insights into the comet's physical changes as it nears the sun.

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