Exploring The Planets - Pluto

Exploring The Planets
Pluto

Pluto and Charon Imagery

Hubble Space Telescope Images

Hubble Optics Repaired 115k GIF - 33k JPEG NASA/STScI Press Release Image	This image contrasts a ground-based telescopic image of the Pluto-Charon system with an image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Because Pluto and Charon are so close, ground-based observations show them blurred together. However, Hubble is able to resolve the bodies separately. Taken before the Hubble Telescope optics were repaired in 1993, this image shows the degree of resolution obtained by Hubble was far greater than that available with ground-based telescopes. Here is a closer view of the Hubble image [69k GIF] - [14k JPEG].

Pluto and Charon 11k GIF - 9k JPEG Space Telescope Science Institute #STScI-PR94-17 - May 16, 1994	This image of Pluto and Charon was taken February 21, 1994 shortly after the Hubble Space Telescope optics had been repaired. (Comparison with earlier Hubble imagery shows how drastically the resolution was improved.) This image suggests that Pluto and Charon differ in surface composition based on their color (Charon is bluer than Pluto). A bright surface feature may also have been revealed parallel to Pluto's equator.

Pluto's Surface 49k GIF - 29k JPEG Space Telescope Science Institute #STScI-PRC96-09a-March 7, 1996, A.Stern(SwRI), M. Buie (Lowell Obs.), NASA, ESA.	This image of Pluto reveals surface features never before seen. The image was taken with the European Space Agency's Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope in March of 1996. Click to see the full size image showing two small images in the upper left corner that are actual Hubble images, and two large images that a result of computer image processing of the Hubble data. The two images represent two hemispheres of Pluto, imaged by Hubble over Pluto's 6.4 day rotation. Some of the contrast between lighter and darker areas may indicate topographic features such as basins or impact craters across the planet's surface while most features revealed by Hubble may be a result of seasonal frosts and chemical deposits from Pluto's atmosphere. See: Pluto's unusual orbit.

Moons Discovered 63k JPEG Space Telescope Science Institute	This Hubble Space Telescope image confirmed the existence of 2 new moons of Pluto. Named Nix and Hydra, the tiny moons were discovered in May 2006. Courtesy NASA, ESA, H. Weaver JHU/APL, A. Stern SwRI, and the HST Pluto Companion Search Team See: Pluto's unusual orbit.

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