That second link was excellent, and the first one - made me remember reading translations of Venera mission results [metalhealth]
But it also suggests - to me anyway - possible mechanisms for the flattening. Note that the first paper talks about insufficient heat for vulcanism per se, but plenty of induced frictional heating? In a 100km ice crust, that provides room for - what I shall choose to call - slurpee resurfacing ;)
I was looking at the Pina Colada slushee machine at the gas station churning away, the yellowish slush tumbling around to keep from freezing solid... and I totally though of this comment. Tidal forces must be at play, as well as solar heat absorbed through the dark surface coating of dirt, grit and filth. Coincidentally, things are thawing around here in Detroit, and melting snow is still as dirty as ever, so that checks out.
That Tethys image at the top of the second link was something. It sports a crater so badarsed that it had to be named Oddyseus.
After landing, Philae had a daily peak window at 3.0 to 4.0 W power production. That was at 2.9 AU. Currently we're at 2.1 AU, which means if that daily peak window still exists Philae now gets 5.7 to 7.6 W power from the sun. In addition, the daily sunlight exposure is now estimated to be twice as long, meaning the cold night when Philae cools down is shorter. That's why they're trying now. If Philae manages to retain enough heat to keep itself above -45°C and can feed that solar power into its electric system it can listen now.
Whether that peak window exists depends on the changing surface of the comet. Could be that by now Philae has shifted its position significantly or that overhangs that shadowed Philae have become less substantial, and that that peak window is now either shorter or longer. The shadowing is important insofar as Philae even in its peak window only has about 11.7% of its solar panels lit. If the "perihelion cliff" was gone Philae would be getting 65 W right now (and be around the point where it's overheating from exposure).
The 19 W required for operations should under above "static" assumptions definitely be reached at 1.33 AU. Given 67P/C-G's path Philae should come into this position around two weeks before perihelion.
Thanks for the clarified info. I'm hoping the best for this.
As we wait, I happened across this. It's Luna, our very own, and a topographical view centered on
the southern polar region the Aitken basin. It is the largest single impact site of its kind on the lunar body, just under our view.
Note: Quick edit job there once I saw a true map of the Lunar southern polar region. But still, we're not safe from ortillery incoming from any direction, that was my underlying thought. ;D
Happened along with most of the Maria about 4.3 billion years ago. It's fun and truly awesome to marvel at how the LHB leaves its ancient but unmistakeable marks on everything around us.
Edit: Couldn't find a nifty labeled south pole Moon map off hand, but check this north polar one out for the antipodal region, keeping in mind that the Aitken basin is on the far side of the moon (as well as the southern hemisphere, obviously). Looks pretty well obliterated to me, where ever it might precisely be.