Pluto & Charon in Color

NASA's probe, "New Horizons" has is on a mission to study the demoted planet Pluto and its moons.  It is about three months from sending us close up images of the dwarf planet and its satellites. However, it has sent us a tease of the dwarf planet and its moon Charon.  This image is the first color image of the dwarf planet and its moon.  Previous images were in black and white.

This new image is making scientists and other science enthusiasts excited about what is to come. The image was taken at about 72 million miles.  As New Horizons approaches the dwarf planet, it will take high-resolution photos of about 400 meters per pixel as it travels 30,000 mph.  These images are the equivalent of Google maps satellite images. Finally, we will get to learn more of this mysterious icy world that was once a planet.  Some astronomers theorize that Pluto may be in fact the moon of a larger planet.  This flyby and its data will hopefully clear things up regarding this hypothesis.


NASA Tweeted this:

First color image of #Pluto and Charon from @NASANewHorizons, thanks to the Ralph camera! http://t.co/eO7DjqL2Oh pic.twitter.com/kFDvdK9ydM
— NASA New Horizons (@NASANewHorizons) April 14, 2015

Source:

http://time.com/3822294/pluto-first-color-image-nasa-new-horizons-charon/

http://www.wfla.com/story/28812196/new-horizons-probe-dishes-up-its-first-color-view-of-pluto-and-charon

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/15/tech/pluto-nasa-new-horizons-first-color-picture/index.html?sr=fb041515pluto1030aStoryLink

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/new-horizons-probe-dishes-colorful-view-pluto-n341606

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/april/nasa-s-new-horizons-spacecraft-nears-historic-july-14-encounter-with-pluto/index.html?linkId=13549574