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New Horizons mission eyes Pluto | New Horizons mission eyes Pluto |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The New Horizons probe has returned new pictures of the dwarf planet Pluto and its largest moon, Charon. | The New Horizons probe has returned new pictures of the dwarf planet Pluto and its largest moon, Charon. |
They are the first images since the Nasa mission formally began its countdown to a flyby of the distant world in July. | They are the first images since the Nasa mission formally began its countdown to a flyby of the distant world in July. |
Pluto and its satellite appear as white blobs in the photos, which were taken from a separation of 200 million km. | Pluto and its satellite appear as white blobs in the photos, which were taken from a separation of 200 million km. |
But come May, New Horizons will return views of the dwarf – 5bn km from Earth - that better anything from the Hubble. | But come May, New Horizons will return views of the dwarf – 5bn km from Earth - that better anything from the Hubble. |
There is not much science that can be done with these early pictures. | There is not much science that can be done with these early pictures. |
Their primary use is to make sure the probe is lined up properly for its historic rendezvous in just over five months. | Their primary use is to make sure the probe is lined up properly for its historic rendezvous in just over five months. |
Controllers will be conducting a number of these optical navigation surveys. | Controllers will be conducting a number of these optical navigation surveys. |
They need to be sure as well that New Horizons is not heading for any debris that may be moving around the Pluto system when it barrels through at 13km/s. | They need to be sure as well that New Horizons is not heading for any debris that may be moving around the Pluto system when it barrels through at 13km/s. |
The first of any adjustments in the spacecraft’s trajectory will begin in March. | The first of any adjustments in the spacecraft’s trajectory will begin in March. |
Birthday shot | Birthday shot |
Nasa released the new image set on the 109th birthday of Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered the distant icy world in 1930. | |
The American astronomer died in 1997, but his daughter, Annette Tombaugh, commented: “My dad would be thrilled with New Horizons. | The American astronomer died in 1997, but his daughter, Annette Tombaugh, commented: “My dad would be thrilled with New Horizons. |
"To actually see the planet that he had discovered, and find out more about it - to get to see the moons of Pluto - he would have been astounded. | "To actually see the planet that he had discovered, and find out more about it - to get to see the moons of Pluto - he would have been astounded. |
“I'm sure it would have meant so much to him if he were still alive today.” | “I'm sure it would have meant so much to him if he were still alive today.” |
Pluto has five known moons. In the new images only Charon shows up in the tenth of a second exposure. | Pluto has five known moons. In the new images only Charon shows up in the tenth of a second exposure. |
Longer exposures acquired in due course will reveal the other satellites, and perhaps additional objects that are bound gravitationally to Pluto. | Longer exposures acquired in due course will reveal the other satellites, and perhaps additional objects that are bound gravitationally to Pluto. |
The picture shown on this page was taken by New Horizons' Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI). | The picture shown on this page was taken by New Horizons' Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI). |
This is the main telescope and camera system onboard. At closest approach to Pluto on 14 July, it will capture details of the surface at under 100m per pixel. | This is the main telescope and camera system onboard. At closest approach to Pluto on 14 July, it will capture details of the surface at under 100m per pixel. |
Pluto is the last of the "classical nine" planets to be visited by a spacecraft. | Pluto is the last of the "classical nine" planets to be visited by a spacecraft. |
In 2006, it was redesignated as a "dwarf planet" by the International Astronomical Union. These small worlds are the most numerous planet class in the Solar System. | In 2006, it was redesignated as a "dwarf planet" by the International Astronomical Union. These small worlds are the most numerous planet class in the Solar System. |
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |
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