Astronomy Geeks: We have reached Pluto!

Luke_I_am_your_spotter

I'm a bit of an astronomy geek and today is an exciting day in space exploration. This morning, NASA's New Horizon Spacecraft finally flew by Pluto after a 10 year journey. It took this picture, the most detailed picture yet we have of the dwarf planet. Turns out Pluto has a heart (measures 1,000 miles across) How cool is that?1? Anyway just wanted to share for anyone interested!

JenAndSome

That's really cool! I can't wait to show the kids.

grkfire

Awesome! Can't wait to see what further pix it sends out.

huynhkt760

How does everyone know that you actully did that just with a perfect picture? This is not even an exercise.

fannyfrost

I followed it on Twitter this morning. It was so cool. I even saw the video of when they passed Pluto. Very exciting

Luke_I_am_your_spotter

I believe this pic was taken 7800 miles from the surface. The spacecraft cant collect data and send info out simultaneously so we are going to have to wait a bit for more pictures and data. I think it will be finished collecting most of its data by tomorrow and then it will take a while to receive it all.

Prior to this mission, this was the best picture ever taken of Pluto. It was taken by Hubble:



That picture is nothing more than a blur. We have learned so much in the last couple weeks as New Horizons was approaching Pluto.

We are currently learning a LOT! Scientists now know that Pluto is 1,473 miles in diameter. Before this, they thought it was smaller.


This is a timeline of how Pluto looked as New Horizons approached.

PewterSky

Jersey__Devil wrote: »

I'm a bit of an astronomy geek and today is an exciting day in space exploration. This morning, NASA's New Horizon Spacecraft finally flew by Pluto after a 10 year journey. It took this picture, the most detailed picture yet we have of the dwarf planet. Turns out Pluto has a heart (measures 1,000 miles across) How cool is that?1? Anyway just wanted to share for anyone interested!

Looks beautiful! I have been so caught up in my work haven't been up to date with any news lately. Thanks for sharing!

Luke_I_am_your_spotter

huynhkt760 wrote: »

How does everyone know that you actully did that just with a perfect picture? This is not even an exercise.

I don't know what you are trying to say, but I didn't take this picture. NASA did.

Luke_I_am_your_spotter

fannyfrost wrote: »

I followed it on Twitter this morning. It was so cool. I even saw the video of when they passed Pluto. Very exciting

That tweet was awesome!

asianfashionista86

But it's no longer a planet r.i.p

Luke_I_am_your_spotter

asianfashionista86 wrote: »

But it's no longer a planet r.i.p

it will always be my #9

CarlydogsMom

So here's the NASA post:

Gorgeous Pluto! The dwarf planet has sent a love note back to Earth via our New Horizons spacecraft, which has traveled more than 9 years and 3+ billion miles. This is the last and most detailed image of Pluto sent to Earth before the moment of closest approach, which was at 7:49 a.m. EDT Tuesday - about 7,750 miles above the surface -- roughly the same distance from New York to Mumbai, India - making it the first-ever space mission to explore a world so far from Earth. This stunning image of the dwarf planet was captured from New Horizons at about 4 p.m. EDT on July 13, about 16 hours before the moment of closest approach. The spacecraft was 476,000 miles (766,000 kilometers) from the surface. Images from closest approach are expected to be released on Wednesday, July 15. Image Credit: NASA #nasa #pluto #plutoflyby #newhorizons#solarsystem #nasabeyond #science

My question to you guys, can you help me understand the two sets of miles/distance given (one says 7,750 miles above the surface, then later says 476,000 miles from the surface); what????

Luke_I_am_your_spotter

CarlydogsMom wrote: »

So here's the NASA post:

Gorgeous Pluto! The dwarf planet has sent a love note back to Earth via our New Horizons spacecraft, which has traveled more than 9 years and 3+ billion miles. This is the last and most detailed image of Pluto sent to Earth before the moment of closest approach, which was at 7:49 a.m. EDT Tuesday - about 7,750 miles above the surface -- roughly the same distance from New York to Mumbai, India - making it the first-ever space mission to explore a world so far from Earth. This stunning image of the dwarf planet was captured from New Horizons at about 4 p.m. EDT on July 13, about 16 hours before the moment of closest approach. The spacecraft was 476,000 miles (766,000 kilometers) from the surface. Images from closest approach are expected to be released on Wednesday, July 15. Image Credit: NASA #nasa #pluto #plutoflyby #newhorizons#solarsystem #nasabeyond #science

My question to you guys, can you help me understand the two sets of miles/distance given (one says 7,750 miles above the surface, then later says 476,000 miles from the surface); what????

It was 7,750 miles at its closest distance. The 476,000 miles was 16 hours hour before the 7,750 point.

asianfashionista86

Jersey__Devil wrote: »

asianfashionista86 wrote: »

But it's no longer a planet r.i.p

it will always be my #9

Mvemjsunp no longer

CarlydogsMom

Jersey__Devil wrote: »

CarlydogsMom wrote: »

So here's the NASA post:

Gorgeous Pluto! The dwarf planet has sent a love note back to Earth via our New Horizons spacecraft, which has traveled more than 9 years and 3+ billion miles. This is the last and most detailed image of Pluto sent to Earth before the moment of closest approach, which was at 7:49 a.m. EDT Tuesday - about 7,750 miles above the surface -- roughly the same distance from New York to Mumbai, India - making it the first-ever space mission to explore a world so far from Earth. This stunning image of the dwarf planet was captured from New Horizons at about 4 p.m. EDT on July 13, about 16 hours before the moment of closest approach. The spacecraft was 476,000 miles (766,000 kilometers) from the surface. Images from closest approach are expected to be released on Wednesday, July 15. Image Credit: NASA #nasa #pluto #plutoflyby #newhorizons#solarsystem #nasabeyond #science

My question to you guys, can you help me understand the two sets of miles/distance given (one says 7,750 miles above the surface, then later says 476,000 miles from the surface); what????

It was 7,750 miles at its closest distance. The 476,000 miles was 16 hours hour before the 7,750 point.

Yes, but it says "This is the last and most detailed image of Pluto....(meaning that incredible image posted here) before the moment of closest approach...7,750 miles..." And then later says "This stunning image was captured 16 hours before closest approach...476,000 miles..." Both referring to the same image, right? I'm conFOOSED....

Luke_I_am_your_spotter

no. The way the spacecraft is designed it can not receive data/take pics and send at the same time or it will malfunction and have to reset. (It did a reset last week when it tried to do that.) So we still haven't received the closest, most detailed images yet. Some have been taken and some havent-- but we are waiting for them. Make sense?

PurringMyrrh

*some childish joke about reaching Uranus*

lmd177

That is amazing!

CarlydogsMom

Jersey__Devil wrote: »

no. The way the spacecraft is designed it can not receive data/take pics and send at the same time or it will malfunction and have to reset. (It did a reset last week when it tried to do that.) So we still haven't received the closest, most detailed images yet. Some have been taken and some havent-- but we are waiting for them. Make sense?

OK. Thank you......whew.

Luke_I_am_your_spotter

sunn_lighter wrote: »

And most importantly, the aliens tried to send a message of love by carving a giant heart right on the front of it.

this is correct. a sign from the universe we should all love one another.