Pluto - it's here and it's real !

Wow,

mysterious dark spots on Pluto, with it's reddish hue, what will still be revealed at Pluto?

All the latest here:
www.universetoday.com/121236/new-horizon...ing-pluto-encounter/

Keith..

Hi all, this 1st clear combined shot of both Pluto and it's moon Charon was taken on Wednesday July 8th from a distance of 3.7 million miles (about 6 million kms) from both the LORRI and RALPH instruments aboard the New Horizons spacecraft.



Keith..

That's an impressive image. Charon looks like a mini version of the moon. Perhaps the observing guide for August might have a guest slot for Pluto

www.nasa.gov is probably one of the best locations online for getting rapid updates on the mission today. Follow the link for LIVE NASA TV coverage later today (Irish Time).

Did you know that an upward revision of Pluto's size was conducted? It is now set at 2,370km, making it the largest of the bodies known beyond Neptune.

The features captured so far in the past few days have been mesmerising!



Seanie.

Real-time data on the mission (distance, speed etc.):

www.livecometdata.com/new-horizons-spacecraft/

Pluto looks magnificent, the large flat looking area to the south of the image appears like a large desert region. To the left of this region there is a great double impact crater, with one crater sitting inside its larger sibling and a rille heading away. The dark region on Charon looks a little like the Mare Orientale on the moon and there is great ray splashes from the large impact crater.

If these are the opening shots then we are in for some great times as more images are released and more details are revealed.

Bring it on.

Paul