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The upcoming flyby of Pluto will be the first for a planet in 25 years
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:16 pm
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:16 pm
Some of you might not have even been alive the last time a new planet was imaged closely for the first time in 1989 (Neptune).
Of course, Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet by some.
Our best images of Pluto to date before the flyby:
Of course, Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet by some.
quote:
After an epic journey across the solar system, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is finally nearing its final destination: the Pluto system, a staggering 3 billion miles from Earth.
In December, after a journey of nine years, the spacecraft was brought out of hibernation for the last time in preparation for its rendezvous with the dwarf planet the week of July 12.
Asked if he is excited, William McKinnon, a planetary scientist at Washington University in St. Louis who is a co-investigator on the New Horizons science team, says: “How can I answer that question? We’ve been trying to do this for 25 years, and now it’s all of a sudden happening. It kind of seems a little unreal. Like, is this really happening?”
The last such “first encounter” with a planet was in 1989, when Voyager 2 took a look at Neptune on its way out of the solar system. Half the people in the United States are too young to remember that flyby.
Our best images of Pluto to date before the flyby:
This post was edited on 5/12/15 at 10:17 pm
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:19 pm to weagle99
Pluto isn't a planet.
I'm joking, that's really cool.
I'm joking, that's really cool.
This post was edited on 5/12/15 at 10:20 pm
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:19 pm to Oates Mustache
It's a Trans-Neptunian interloper.
Got it?
Got it?
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:20 pm to weagle99
Hope the new pics justify making it a planet again.
Also will the satellite take a selfie with Pluto in the background?
Also will the satellite take a selfie with Pluto in the background?
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:22 pm to weagle99
quote:
Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet by some.
fricking insecure baby boomers and haters, that's who.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:23 pm to weagle99
That thing flew by Jupiter 8 years ago for a gravity assist and has been cruising at 50,000 mph since then.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:23 pm to weagle99
quote:
the Pluto system, a staggering 3 billion miles from Earth.
damn, I didn't realize it was quite that far away....
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:24 pm to weagle99
quote:
Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet by some.
It was officially voted out of the club by the International Astronomical Union.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:25 pm to soccerfüt
Bite my shiny arse, daffodil!
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:25 pm to crazyLSUfan
Its not like it's not considered a planet because we don't see it often enough. It just doesn't fit the currently agreed upon criteria for what makes something a "planet"
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:25 pm to The Boat
quote:
It was officially voted out of the club by the International Astronomical Union.
That vote remains controversial from what I understand.
For example, if Earth were located in the same location as Pluto it would not be considered a planet.
This post was edited on 5/12/15 at 10:27 pm
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:26 pm to weagle99
The distances and planning involved in these missions blow my mind.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:26 pm to Spankum
Yeah, Pluto's way the frick out there.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:26 pm to weagle99
Because it was voted on by about 5% of the world's astronomers.
A lot like US presidential elections. Everyone bitches but no one voted.
A lot like US presidential elections. Everyone bitches but no one voted.
This post was edited on 5/12/15 at 10:28 pm
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:27 pm to SundayFunday
quote:
It just doesn't fit the currently agreed upon criteria for what makes something a "planet"
I say this about two chicks trying to get married and guys dressing like women all the time.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:27 pm to tigervet4
quote:
The distances and planning involved in these missions blow my mind.
To imagine something that man built humming around at 50,000 mph is pretty cool.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:29 pm to weagle99
I am as excited for these pictures as anything else that will probably be happening this year. Space fascinates me.
Posted on 5/12/15 at 10:39 pm to weagle99
quote:
Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet by some.
And the probe to Ceres beats the one to Pluto by just a hair, not by 25 years.
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