The New Horizons Probe that everyone has been watching closes has finally sent back some images to NASA of the dwarf planet. The unveiling of the new images of Pluto today revealed some mysterious features on Pluto’s surface.
New Images of Pluto’s Surface
The New Horizons team is excited to finally see these close-up images of the dwarf planet. Curt Niebur, New Horizons program scientist, said in a public statement, “We’re close enough now that we’re just starting to see Pluto’s geology.” Just three days, ago we got a look at a new map of Pluto’s surface indicating light and dark areas. According to these new photos and information released Saturday, there seems to be a 1,000 mile band of rough terrain running horizontally on the surface, and as well as a dark surface in the shape of a whale’s tale in the southern hemisphere of the planet. The tale was also seen in the new map previously mentioned. These new images of Pluto have given scientists even more information on this ex-planet, and now we are all waiting in anticipation for what else there is to learn from this New Horizons mission.
Family of Planets
The probe was also able to get what the media are calling a “first family photo” of Pluto and it’s moon, Charon. Upon arrival at its destination, the New Horizons team is hoping to not only receive information on the dwarf planet, but it’s 5 moons as well. As it passes Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra, scientists are really hoping for some glimpses and data of each moon.
Update on New Horizons
The spacecraft is estimated to reach Pluto on Tuesday, being approximately 12,500 kilometers (just 7,767 miles) from the surface. The most difficult part of this expedition is said to be the sending of information gathered by the probe. Scientists expect it to take a little over a year for us to receive all the information that New Horizons is anticipated to gather this week. You can view the new images of Pluto on NASA’s website.
