New Horizons Captures A Day In The Life Of Pluto And Its Largest Moon Charon
- 8 years ago
Two sets of composite images have been released by NASA—each showing a full rotation for Pluto and Charon—the largest of the dwarf planet’s five moons.
Pluto and its largest moon Charon appear in a series of images released by NASA—each performing a full rotation.
Gathered by the New Horizons explorer, one composite picture shows Pluto making its way through a full Plutonian day—equivalent to 6.4 days on Earth.
As Pluto spins, we catch sight of the informally named Tombaugh Regio, a heart-shaped expanse of the dwarf planet's geography.
It comes into view and then out again; the so-called "encounter hemisphere" appearing in high detail at the 6 o'clock position.
As we turn to Charon, where the days are just as long, the combined image shows a somewhat less-striking, o
Pluto and its largest moon Charon appear in a series of images released by NASA—each performing a full rotation.
Gathered by the New Horizons explorer, one composite picture shows Pluto making its way through a full Plutonian day—equivalent to 6.4 days on Earth.
As Pluto spins, we catch sight of the informally named Tombaugh Regio, a heart-shaped expanse of the dwarf planet's geography.
It comes into view and then out again; the so-called "encounter hemisphere" appearing in high detail at the 6 o'clock position.
As we turn to Charon, where the days are just as long, the combined image shows a somewhat less-striking, o