BRENT: NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft captured thrilling first-ever images of Pluto’s moons, Nix and Hydra, exactly 85 years after the icy planet were first discovered.
Between Jan. 27 and Feb. 8, the craft took various long-exposure photos from 125 million to 115 million miles away, according to the mission website. The images provide our best view to date of the small satellites orbiting the dwarf planet.
NASA had only just become aware Nix and Hydra existed until the New Horizons mission launch in 2006, NBC reports. The glare from Pluto and its largest moon Charon was minimized in order to allow for a better view of the small ‘dancing’ moons.
Astronomers discover distant dwarf planet beyond Neptune
LONDON: A dwarf planet half the size of Britain has been found tumbling through space in the most distant reaches...
