New Horizons getting closer to Pluto

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

yep super excited, i'm pretty sure all new pics are pretty much relayed to this thread very soon after being made public

hanging for a nice big colour pic of Pluto and Charon, seriously cannot wait.

the Huygens definitely a massive feat, but I struggled to interpret the scale and fov I was looking at - from memory is was a pretty extreme fish eye lens used. the atmosphere gave the impression of a thick soupy feeling - too bad the secondary camera failed on descent.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

hanging for a nice big colour pic of Pluto and Charon, seriously cannot wait.

the Huygens definitely a massive feat, but I struggled to interpret the scale and fov I was looking at - from memory is was a pretty extreme fish eye lens used. the atmosphere gave the impression of a thick soupy feeling - too bad the secondary camera failed on descent.

Well, according to Emily's post, the best single frame LORRI image of Pluto should be down by tomorrow night, though it doesn't look like there will be corresponding colour data until the main downlink starts in a couple of months. I'm sure there will be some other colour images before then and I'm sure someone will hack the last colour images about to colourise the LORRI image.

I think the Huygens video you're thinking of was the compilation video showing all the images taken during the descent. It was done in an extreme fisheye view but that's not how the images were taken. That was an awesome video though - been a while since I've watched it so it might be time for another viewing

[RichardJ (Richard)]

Just over a day till closest approach.

I got to visit and observe at Lowell observatory a few years ago and enjoyed the story, exhibits and telescope around the discovery of Pluto. The next weeks and months will be great as more data gets downloaded.

I think it's great that in the states of Illinois and New Mexico there is legislation that Pluto is still a Planet

RichardJ

[pluto (Hugh)]

Pluto from 3 million kms:
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/soc/Pluto-En...x630_sci_1.jpg
And Charon:
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/soc/Pluto-En...x630_sci_1.jpg

[N1 (Mirko)]

Those "regular" spots on what is going to be the far side on flyby don't look all that regular to me.
Pluto viewing last night didn't happen due to high cloud and crappy seeing.

[RichardJ (Richard)]

Just been watching NASA TV.
Pluto has a confirmed polar cap and its diameter has been measured very accurately settling what is the biggest object in the Kuiper belt so far.
Great stuff!!!

RichardJ

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Pluto at 2.5M kms

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

starting fill the screen up a bit more

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

Is that dot in the top right one of the small moons? (I know, I know, probably just a background star...)

[N1 (Mirko)]

Maybe it is a moon. A background star would have to be pretty bright to appear in the photo like that. It nmight also explain why Pluto is not centered in this image. Same for the earlier Charon shot.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Charon at 2.5M km (took longer to be uploaded up to the webpage)

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

as I post this I have just read live that the current location Charon fills up the entire FOV, hanging to see that.

[clive milne]

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/f...huapl-swri.png

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

Charon at 2.5M km (took longer to be uploaded up to the webpage)

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

as I post this I have just read live that the current location Charon fills up the entire FOV, hanging to see that.

I was thinking that too. It seems too much of a coincidence.

[AstroJason (Jason)]

I'm sure some people know about it but for those that don't and want to watch the progress live you can do so here...

http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv

[RichardJ (Richard)]

Check out the NASA July 13th news briefing for some great info

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNSGTbS3xuQ

RichardJ

[glenc (Glen)]

This Guide 9 map shows Pluto at 7pm tonight with the zenith up.
Pluto is 28' from mag 5 xi1 Sgr.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by glenc

This Guide 9 map shows Pluto at 7pm tonight with the zenith up.
Pluto is 28' from mag 5 xi1 Sgr.

Fresh fov from last night here. Wouldn't have moved much in 24h.

[icytailmark (Mark)]

2 hrs to go!!!! very exciting!!!! cant wait to see more images!!!

[glenc (Glen)]

I saw Pluto with my 16" scope and an 8mm EP at 225x, also saw the mag 15.1 star next to it.

[xelasnave]

Who gets naming rights to the crater on the right ..the big eye. Looks interesting.

[RichardJ (Richard)]

Check out this fabulous sneak preview image

https://t.co/GItS2VCU5P#PlutoFlyby

RichardJ