Pluto - it's here and it's real !
- Keith g
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Super Giant
-
- Posts: 2578
- Thank you received: 309
news.discovery.com/space/new-spacecraft-...lex-pluto-150527.htm
Keith..
If a telescope can fit into your backyard it's too small. If you can't move it, it's too big." -- John Dobson
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- JohnONeill
-
- Offline
- Red Giant
-
- Posts: 596
- Thank you received: 99
Excluding other EKB objects, Pluto and Charon are the largest unexplored (known) objects in the Solar System.
From the New Horizons craft, Pluto has now surpassed 10 arcsec in diameter. Maybe not seem large, but from Earth Pluto is just 0.10 arcsec across! In the coming weeks Pluto and Charon will dramatically increase in size in the FOV of New Horizons cameras.
John
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- mykc
-
- Offline
- Main Sequence
-
- Posts: 447
- Thank you received: 164
Mike
Celestron 280 mm f/10 SCT
CG-5 mount
Toolbox full of bits n' bobs
Thermal underwear
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Keith g
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Super Giant
-
- Posts: 2578
- Thank you received: 309
This thread will be very busy from now on

Keith..
If a telescope can fit into your backyard it's too small. If you can't move it, it's too big." -- John Dobson
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Keith g
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Super Giant
-
- Posts: 2578
- Thank you received: 309
And Charon looks dark with its own surface markings, what a great moment in space exploration
www.astronomy.com/news/2015/07/spots-on-...s-gets-the-all-clear
Keith..
If a telescope can fit into your backyard it's too small. If you can't move it, it's too big." -- John Dobson
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- JohnONeill
-
- Offline
- Red Giant
-
- Posts: 596
- Thank you received: 99
A few comparisons, as of today (3rd July):
Pluto is still only 39" in width (and Charon 20"). But at last it's bigger than Jupiter's apparent diameter of 32". They should grow rapidly in the coming days!
From Earth, Pluto is 0.10" in diameter!
John
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Keith g
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Super Giant
-
- Posts: 2578
- Thank you received: 309
mysterious dark spots on Pluto, with it's reddish hue, what will still be revealed at Pluto?
All the latest here:
www.universetoday.com/121236/new-horizon...ing-pluto-encounter/
Keith..
If a telescope can fit into your backyard it's too small. If you can't move it, it's too big." -- John Dobson
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Keith g
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Super Giant
-
- Posts: 2578
- Thank you received: 309
If a telescope can fit into your backyard it's too small. If you can't move it, it's too big." -- John Dobson
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Neill
-
- Offline
- IFAS Astronomer of the Year 2011
-
- Posts: 578
- Thank you received: 515

Linda: "All in all, this is one day Mittens the kitten won't soon forget."
Morbo: "Kittens give Morbo gas."
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Seanie_Morris
-
- Offline
- Administrator
-
- Posts: 9620
- Thank you received: 512
Did you know that an upward revision of Pluto's size was conducted? It is now set at 2,370km, making it the largest of the bodies known beyond Neptune.
The features captured so far in the past few days have been mesmerising!
Seanie.
Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Seanie_Morris
-
- Offline
- Administrator
-
- Posts: 9620
- Thank you received: 512
www.livecometdata.com/new-horizons-spacecraft/
Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- lunartic
-
- Offline
- Super Giant
-
- Posts: 1713
- Thank you received: 443
If these are the opening shots then we are in for some great times as more images are released and more details are revealed.
Bring it on.
Paul
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better programs, and the universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning.
Rich Cook
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Keith g
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Super Giant
-
- Posts: 2578
- Thank you received: 309
Keith..
If a telescope can fit into your backyard it's too small. If you can't move it, it's too big." -- John Dobson
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- mykc
-
- Offline
- Main Sequence
-
- Posts: 447
- Thank you received: 164
(Copied from medium.com/starts-with-a-bang/is-pluto-a-planet-now-8a4ea23e52a )
Celestron 280 mm f/10 SCT
CG-5 mount
Toolbox full of bits n' bobs
Thermal underwear
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Neill
-
- Offline
- IFAS Astronomer of the Year 2011
-
- Posts: 578
- Thank you received: 515
Above is a link to a finder chart for it, if anyone wants to try and find it/imagine it

Linda: "All in all, this is one day Mittens the kitten won't soon forget."
Morbo: "Kittens give Morbo gas."
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Neill
-
- Offline
- IFAS Astronomer of the Year 2011
-
- Posts: 578
- Thank you received: 515

Has anyone ever tried to locate it?
Linda: "All in all, this is one day Mittens the kitten won't soon forget."
Morbo: "Kittens give Morbo gas."
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- JohnONeill
-
- Offline
- Red Giant
-
- Posts: 596
- Thank you received: 99
I have seen Pluto a few times over the years. My first time was on the night of 24-25 April 1992 with my Coulter 13.1" (33.3 cm) Dobsonian. At that time it was on the borders of Serpens and Libra. I had no computer charts in those days!
For a recent (i.e. 2014) image of Pluto I took see my website: Variable Star Nights
and follow the link to "Asteroids/EKB Objects".
John
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- lunartic
-
- Offline
- Super Giant
-
- Posts: 1713
- Thank you received: 443
Paul
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better programs, and the universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning.
Rich Cook
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Keith g
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Super Giant
-
- Posts: 2578
- Thank you received: 309
New images will come tomorrow
www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-relea...-17-nasa-tv-briefing
Keith..
If a telescope can fit into your backyard it's too small. If you can't move it, it's too big." -- John Dobson
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- mykc
-
- Offline
- Main Sequence
-
- Posts: 447
- Thank you received: 164
Mike
Celestron 280 mm f/10 SCT
CG-5 mount
Toolbox full of bits n' bobs
Thermal underwear
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.