Washington – It is the first time that NASA’s New Horizon probe has captured a full-colored image of the icy dwarf planet – Pluto. In this image, Pluto is appearing more of two small dots and NASA’s spacecraft will continue its journey towards Pluto.
The dwarf planet in our solar system’s frozen backyard would be visited for the very first time by any spacecraft, though still it is not anywhere near for a close encounter. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is still three months away though it is already in a viewing range. This is according to the show from the newly released photos.
For the first time, the image of the planet will have been taken so close from the dwarf planet. However, this will happen when the spacecraft reaches very close to Pluto.
According to NASA’s Planetary Science Division Director, Jim Green,“There is a tantalizing glimpses of this system from the image.” The images will help in conducting observations and analysis.
In the image taken from a distance of 115 million km, Charon is seen dimmer than Pluto. This could have been caused either by previously unseen atmosphere on Charon or a difference in composition of the two bodies.
Going to Pluto is within the first human race opportunity that will enhance the study of an entirely new class of the world. All along researchers and astronomers have only been aware of one moon of Pluto called Charon. However, this is as wide as the dwarf planet with nearly 50 percent.
Small moons orbiting Pluto have now been spotted by New Horizons, Exactly 85 years after Pluto’s discovery. Within the series of images taken by the New Horizons spacecraft, moons, Nix and Hydra, are visible. The distances were ranging between 201 to 186 million km.
As it is now New Horizons, has been offered the best view of these two small moons circling Pluto by the long-exposure images. Styx and Kerberos are the other Pluto’s two small moons. However, they are said to be smaller and faint hence they cannot be seen by New Horizons.
Source: NASA.
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