A bright burst of light on a comet being orbited by the Rosetta space probe was captured in images shared by the European Space Agency (ESA). The light show was apparently caused by a landslide.

The dramatic flashes were recorded on Feb. 19 and accompanied by rising temperatures and sharp increases in dust, gas and plasma released from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

The image above shows the bright burst of light on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko captured by the Rosetta space probe. Scientists believe the flash was caused by a landslide.

(European Space Agency)

At a Glance

Images captured by the Rosetta space probe show a bright burst of light on a comet. Scientists believe the flash was caused by a landslide.

Eberhard Gruen of the Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany, said Thursday that a landslide on the comet's surface was most likely responsible.

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The flashes would have been generated by light reflecting from dust particles kicked up by the landslide.

The European Space Agency plans to crash-land Rosetta on the comet's surface Sept. 30, more than two years after it started orbiting the comet.

Data collected by Rosetta and its lander, Philae, have improved scientists' understanding of comets.

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