New Horizons getting closer to Pluto

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by pmrid

I know what you mean - and I agree with you - but when you consider what has been involved in imaging Ceres and Vesta, I had a moment of pause while I digested the word "just "in context. Haven't we become so accustomed to these marvelous adventures in space? It's just the way we're wired I guess. But "just " it ain't.

Peter

Hey, I'd still think it awesome if it does turn out to look "just" like Ceres et al but it would be extra cool if it had some other distinguishing features, like an atmosphere or polar caps, that would be very cool (pardon the pun )

Mike

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Gibbous Pluto
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/soc/Pluto-En...x630_sci_1.jpg

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Starting to hint at not just looking like another Vesta or Ceres..let's hope so

Mike

Originally Posted by pmrid

I know what you mean - and I agree with you - but when you consider what has been involved in imaging Ceres and Vesta, I had a moment of pause while I digested the word "just "in context. Haven't we become so accustomed to these marvelous adventures in space? It's just the way we're wired I guess. But "just " it ain't.

Peter

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Hey, I'd still think it awesome if it does turn out to look "just" like Ceres et al but it would be extra cool if it had some other distinguishing features, like an atmosphere or polar caps, that would be very cool (pardon the pun )

Mike

definitely know what you mean Mike, and Peter no harm in hoping for something more active though.

I think it is going to be really cool. the best thing is we don't know. I'm thinking something Triton like - but hoping for more Titan with less atmosphere or something totally different would be even better is it still meant to be pinkish? - haha not often we get to speculate

Originally Posted by RichardJ

Some recent news - Unusual features on Pluto.

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/...age=20150701-2

RichardJ

very interesting!

[Neil]

The nearer New Horizons gets to Pluto, the more mysterious the God of the underworld becomes, clear skies.

[LewisM]

Here was I thinking we WERE going to see another big asteroid, and Pluto goes and throws us all! Red with black formations ... this is going to be incredible.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Hopefully this is the last glitch before closest approach!
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/...?page=20150704

EDIT:
The discussion over at UMSF seems to hint that, as NH is currently downlinking at ~1kb/s, it may now be out of safe mode.
http://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html

Fingers crossed!

[pluto (Hugh)]

And on a more positive note - new images!:
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/common/conte...HUAPL-SWRI.gif

It looks like a little Mars!!

[DaveGee (Dave Gault)]

It's a real pity that NH doesn't have a clone taking the slow road, ar-la Voyager 1&2.
You know, to follow up anything interesting... ahem... how do you up the ante on "anything interesting"... stupendously, mind-bogglingly unexpectedly interesting?

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

well it may be a few days to get NH to take some more shots.

here is a pic from the most recent release (3 july)

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/soc/Pluto-En...03<br>04:39:15 UTC&description=OpNav+Campaign+4%2C +LORRI+1X1&target=PLUTO&range=13.5M km&exposure=150 msec

[N1 (Mirko)]

More intresting imagery:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/latest-...m-new-horizons

Why they have to inflate them like that I don't know. Makes my eyes water. View at 25% zoom, much better and no loss of detail.

Atmosphere or artefact?

[pluto (Hugh)]

Originally Posted by N1

More intresting imagery:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/latest-...m-new-horizons

Why they have to inflate them like that I don't know. Makes my eyes water. View at 25% zoom, much better and no loss of detail.

Atmosphere or artefact?

Yeah not presented very nicely.
They're the same images used to make that anim I posted the other day, and I thought it looked like traces of cloud in that - though I doubt it really is.
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/common/conte...HUAPL-SWRI.gif

Hopefully new images tomorrow following a return to operations tonight.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

something to view while awaiting the next picture release...

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/...?page=20150707

[sn1987a (Barry)]

Go you good thing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f19tTPlUoqc

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by sn1987a

Go you good thing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f19tTPlUoqc

that is awesome barry! - i have to say that reminds me of trying to do planetary imaging with a dob without tracking

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Finally! new images getting close now
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/soc/Pluto-En...x630_sci_1.jpg

[pluto (Hugh)]

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

Finally! new images getting close now
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/soc/Pluto-En...x630_sci_1.jpg

Haha just about to post the same link!

Really amazing image, that "crater" has turned out to be an even more interesting albedo feature
Can't wait for more!!

[ZeroID (Brent)]

OOoooer ! It is round and has features, must be a planet ...

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by pluto

Haha just about to post the same link!

Really amazing image, that "crater" has turned out to be an even more interesting albedo feature
Can't wait for more!!

Great minds Hugh

yep looking very interesting.
looking at that simulation the next week is going to go by very slowly!

Originally Posted by ZeroID

OOoooer ! It is round and has features, must be a planet ...

I agree, binary planet

[LewisM]

It is amazing how the closer we get to Pluto, the more it looks like the early Martian drawings.

[hobbit]

abc has a pictorial time line of pluto images the closer it gets
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-0...-focus/6566818

amazing the difference between the early and current ones.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

I agree, binary planet

I always thought is technically was, as the barycenter is outside of/above Pluto's surface - well... binary dwarf-planet anyway