This is the First Ever Color Picture of Pluto, Captured by New Horizons

ByKriti Kushwaha April 18, 2015April 18, 2015

first color picture pluto

Pluto – the dwarf planet has always been an appealing area of interest for astronomers and space researchers. The 7.5 billion kilometers distance of Pluto from the Earth makes it difficult to approach and study. However, NASA has received the first ever color picture of dwarf planet Pluto.

‘New Horizons’ spacecraft launched in 2006 by NASA to study dwarf planet Pluto has sent the first color image of Pluto. This picture (shown below) of the dwarf planet has been taken on April 9, 2015.

The picture shows two orange spots which are Pluto and its largest moon, Charon. The color image is from a distance approximately 71 million miles. This image happens to be clearer than those taken from about 126 million miles away in January.

The New Horizons space probe is expected to send back more clear images of Pluto in the near future. The spacecraft is scheduled to reach nearer to Pluto on July 14, 2015. NASA scientists are awaiting for sharper images defining various features of surfaces of Pluto and its moons.