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brooklynite

(96,882 posts) Thu Sep 17, 2015, 01:52 PM Sep 2015

Pluto Like You've Never Seen it Before [View all]

Source: The Atlantic

Images from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft just released today show a backlit mountainous panorama of Pluto, displaying an amazing icy landscape never before seen by humans. Just 15 minutes after its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015, the spacecraft looked back toward the sun and captured this near-sunset view of icy mountains reaching heights of 11,000 feet above flat ice plains extending to Pluto’s horizon.

Read more: http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/09/pluto-like-youve-never-seen-it-before/405904/

39 replies

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Pluto Like You've Never Seen it Before [View all] brooklynite Sep 2015 OP

Too bad we didn't send an orbiter to map it all in detail. Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2015 #1

I read about that. Not easy. Wilms Sep 2015 #6

In order to not need a whole lot of energy (rocket fuel) to go into orbit mindwalker_i Sep 2015 #12

Let's see if all the Kerbal Space Program has helped... RexDart Sep 2015 #31

Yeah, they are different worlds mindwalker_i Sep 2015 #33

Nobody ever expected Pluto to be so interesting Kotya Sep 2015 #7

Most expected a big snowball. Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2015 #11

Alan Stern did! (nt) PosterChild Sep 2015 #19

Almost all initial reconiscance of planetary bodies .... PosterChild Sep 2015 #25

I know, this trip revealed a very high atmosphere that could cause drag on an orbiter. Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2015 #28

Good example (nt) PosterChild Sep 2015 #30

Or possibly be used for aerobraking daleo Sep 2015 #37

Are there no colors out there? Cayenne Sep 2015 #2

They ran out of the Polaroid fixing solution. They have to use the Brownie now. Elmer S. E. Dump Sep 2015 #8

I think these shots were made with the... PosterChild Sep 2015 #24

Not Lorri, Ralph Baclava Sep 2015 #32

Thanks! That is a very detailed, and accurate . ... PosterChild Sep 2015 #39

I know someone who was on the original launch team in 2006 hobbit709 Sep 2015 #3

SWRI? (nt) PosterChild Sep 2015 #27

No doubt this is impressive chapdrum Sep 2015 #4

Hardly a sliver of a sliver starroute Sep 2015 #9

NASA is not military . ... PosterChild Sep 2015 #21

NASA budget is non-military, the problem is Congress (and space pork). Statistical Sep 2015 #34

I agree; we should be taxing the trillions stashed offshore by corporations and wealthy individuals. byronius Sep 2015 #10

I agree with most chapdrum Sep 2015 #13

I guess you don't know much about NASA science projects, Peace Patriot Sep 2015 #23

Perhaps was being unfairly reductive chapdrum Sep 2015 #29

Holy fucking shit. True Blue Door Sep 2015 #5

a lesson in prejudice for all JI7 Sep 2015 #14

Yeppir, it looks like a planet to me. Prisoner_Number_Six Sep 2015 #15

It's a planetoid, get it right Cayenne Sep 2015 #20

A - frigging - right!! (nt) PosterChild Sep 2015 #26

Very cool! Thanks for posting, brooklynite. Dont call me Shirley Sep 2015 #16

I like this one HomerRamone Sep 2015 #17

I'll be damned tabasco Sep 2015 #22

Who wants to grab their mountaineering gear and meet me there? FSogol Sep 2015 #18

If anyone ever tells you this is too expensive ... Statistical Sep 2015 #35

And think of the price per mile.....0.015 CENTS! brooklynite Sep 2015 #36

I saw this on another website and I think it sums it up "for aeons, Pluto ..." Statistical Sep 2015 #38