Pluto's glowing crescent on full display in fresh NASA image

Source: CNET

Pluto's glowing crescent on full display in fresh NASA image

Sci-Tech
30 October 2015
7:58 pm GMT

by Amanda Kooser

Behold the latest piece of Pluto ephemera, a lovely full view of the dwarf planet's crescent.

Back on September 17, NASA released a partial backlit panorama, but the agency wasn't satisfied with just a slice of the space object. Scientists went back to work to produce the full view released Thursday showing most of the dwarf planet with a glowing crescent as the highlight.

The image was taken only 15 minutes after New Horizons' closest approach. It represents what the spacecraft saw as it headed away, taking a moment to look back and see the sunlight glinting off Pluto's curves. Surface formations of plains and tall mountains are visible along the day side.

NASA's New Horizons dove by Pluto back on July 14. It was the culmination of a nearly decade-long mission for the spacecraft, but it also marked the beginning of a massive year-long data dump. New Horizons may be moving onward through space, but scientists back on Earth have their hands full sorting through images and information sent back by the craft.

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