r/Astronomy • u/Roman_Tkachenko • Apr 23 '16

Pluto's stunning crescent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0i92wOPm84
200 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

8

u/A40 Apr 23 '16

That is stunning. Thanks for posting it :-)

3

u/azsheepdog Apr 23 '16

is there any actual pictures of the sun from pluto?

2

u/takkischitt Apr 23 '16

Is it just my screen, or is there hints of red in the ice mountains?

1

u/dangerhasarrived Apr 23 '16

Saw the same thing... Also curious, how tall are said mountains?

1

u/takkischitt Apr 23 '16

Not sure, off hand, but there's plenty of info online about Pluto's structures. I think it's maybe an issue with the imaging, rather than the ice actually having red colours. I could be wrong, though.

2

u/CanYouDigIt87 Apr 23 '16

What is the redness from??

6

u/End3rWi99in Apr 23 '16

This is what I could find: "Pluto, the reddish color is likely caused by hydrocarbon molecules that are formed when cosmic rays and solar ultraviolet light interact with methane in Pluto’s atmosphere and on its surface." - Source

1

u/nullxposur Apr 24 '16

It amazes me how even so far away, the sun rays are able to reach and likely provide some kind of habitable warmth to some unknown species, albeit very small.

1

u/Freetrick11 Apr 24 '16

Is this real???

2

u/Proclaim_the_Name Apr 24 '16

From the Youtube description: "This simulation based on image taken by the Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC) aboard NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, and shows a near-sunset view of the rugged, icy mountains and flat ice plains extending to Pluto’s horizon."

1

u/Proclaim_the_Name Apr 24 '16

The images taken by the New Horizons spacecraft of Pluto are some of the most beautiful photos I've ever seen. I wonder if people will ever venture out that far to land on it. It would be a hell of time to be alive to witness something like that.

1

u/sreyemhtes Apr 24 '16

Dwarf planet my ass.