Philosophy
October 25th, 2013
NASA
Pluto isn’t quite the next exit on New Horizons’ voyage through the outer solar system, but the destination is definitely getting closer. Today the NASA spacecraft speeds to within five astronomical units (AU) of Pluto – which is less than five times the distance between the Earth and the sun, or about 460 million miles.
"It's exciting to be closing in on the Pluto system,” says Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator from Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colo. “The encounter begins in January 2015 – just over 14 months from now. You can really feel the energy level rising on this mission!"
Since launch in January 2006, New Horizons has covered more than 2.7 billion miles (4.4 billion kilometers) – about 85 percent of its journey – putting it in an exclusive club of deep-space explorers that includes NASA’s Pioneer 10, Pioneer 11, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. In fact, the next milepost on New Horizons’ path comes next summer, when it crosses the orbit of Neptune on Aug. 25 — exactly 25 years after Voyager 2 made its historic exploration of that giant planet. When New Horizons arrives at Pluto on July 14, 2015, it will have traveled farther than any spacecraft ever has to reconnoiter its prime target.
Use the blog's search engine for more on this mission and Pluto.
- Lego's New Horizons
"A Model Spacecraft" December 13th, 2013 NASA NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is speeding quickly toward the first flyby of Pluto and its moons – nearing the destination on a voyage that has already captured the imaginations of millions and shown...
- A Fuzzy Charon Visible
Scientific American's Christopher Crockett wrote... NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, now en route to Pluto, got its first glimpse of the dwarf planet’s largest moon, Charon, in this image released July 10. Pluto is the bright spot in the center...
- Fifth Moon Of Pluto
This is significant for I envision New Horizons' dangers dodging small objects and curtailing a long journey. "NASA Hubble Discovers Fifth Moon of Pluto" July 11th, 2012 NASA A team of astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is reporting...
- New Horizons Stamp--one Week Left
PARTICIPATE"New Horizons Stamp Drive Completes a 10K – and Keeps Going!"March 7th, 2012NASAAs fast as NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is heading toward Pluto, the drive to honor this historic exploration of the ninth planet is speeding toward its finish....
- #4 For Pluto...new Moon “s/2011 P1” Or “p4”
"Fourth Moon Adds to Pluto's Appeal" July 20th, 2011 New Horizons NASA On the anniversary of the first landing of men on our moon, New Horizons mission team scientists have announced the discovery of a fourth moon around Pluto – adding to the...
Philosophy
New Horizons getting closer--5AU or about 14 months to Pluto
"On the Path to Pluto, 5 AU and Closing"
October 25th, 2013
NASA
Pluto isn’t quite the next exit on New Horizons’ voyage through the outer solar system, but the destination is definitely getting closer. Today the NASA spacecraft speeds to within five astronomical units (AU) of Pluto – which is less than five times the distance between the Earth and the sun, or about 460 million miles.
"It's exciting to be closing in on the Pluto system,” says Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator from Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colo. “The encounter begins in January 2015 – just over 14 months from now. You can really feel the energy level rising on this mission!"
Since launch in January 2006, New Horizons has covered more than 2.7 billion miles (4.4 billion kilometers) – about 85 percent of its journey – putting it in an exclusive club of deep-space explorers that includes NASA’s Pioneer 10, Pioneer 11, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. In fact, the next milepost on New Horizons’ path comes next summer, when it crosses the orbit of Neptune on Aug. 25 — exactly 25 years after Voyager 2 made its historic exploration of that giant planet. When New Horizons arrives at Pluto on July 14, 2015, it will have traveled farther than any spacecraft ever has to reconnoiter its prime target.
Use the blog's search engine for more on this mission and Pluto.
- Lego's New Horizons
"A Model Spacecraft" December 13th, 2013 NASA NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is speeding quickly toward the first flyby of Pluto and its moons – nearing the destination on a voyage that has already captured the imaginations of millions and shown...
- A Fuzzy Charon Visible
Scientific American's Christopher Crockett wrote... NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, now en route to Pluto, got its first glimpse of the dwarf planet’s largest moon, Charon, in this image released July 10. Pluto is the bright spot in the center...
- Fifth Moon Of Pluto
This is significant for I envision New Horizons' dangers dodging small objects and curtailing a long journey. "NASA Hubble Discovers Fifth Moon of Pluto" July 11th, 2012 NASA A team of astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is reporting...
- New Horizons Stamp--one Week Left
PARTICIPATE"New Horizons Stamp Drive Completes a 10K – and Keeps Going!"March 7th, 2012NASAAs fast as NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is heading toward Pluto, the drive to honor this historic exploration of the ninth planet is speeding toward its finish....
- #4 For Pluto...new Moon “s/2011 P1” Or “p4”
"Fourth Moon Adds to Pluto's Appeal" July 20th, 2011 New Horizons NASA On the anniversary of the first landing of men on our moon, New Horizons mission team scientists have announced the discovery of a fourth moon around Pluto – adding to the...