New Horizons Captures First Colour Photo Of Pluto

New Horizons Captures First Colour Photo Of Pluto
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Despite being over 3 billion miles away from Earth, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is finally within visual distance of the solar system's loneliest dwarf planet, Pluto.

This is the first colour photograph of Pluto along with its largest moon Charon. The mysterious planet will be the centre of attention for New Horizons as it passes close by.

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Launched in 2006, the spacecraft has been patiently travelling through the solar system, waiting for the chance to study both Pluto and the Kuiper Belt that lies far beyond.

While it's not the clearest photo or indeed the most eye-catching, it's an exciting first glimpse from over 70 million miles away.

Luckily you won't have much longer to wait for that little blue dot to get bigger. On 14 July, New Horizons will pass by the planet, using its array of cameras and sensors to gain as much information as possible about Pluto's origins and indeed its structure.