Images by Date
Images by Category
Solar System
Stars
Exoplanets
White Dwarfs
Supernovas
Neutron Stars
Black Holes
Milky Way Galaxy
Normal Galaxies
Quasars
Galaxy Clusters
Cosmology/Deep Field
Miscellaneous
Images by Interest
Space Scoop for Kids
4K JPG
Multiwavelength
Sky Map
Constellations
Photo Blog
Top Rated Images
Image Handouts
Desktops
Fits Files
Image Tutorials
Photo Album Tutorial
False Color
Cosmic Distance
Look-Back Time
Scale & Distance
Angular Measurement
Images & Processing
AVM/Metadata
Image Use Policy
Web Shortcuts
Chandra Blog
RSS Feed
Chronicle
Email Newsletter
News & Noteworthy
Image Use Policy
Questions & Answers
Glossary of Terms
Download Guide
Get Adobe Reader
More Images of Pluto
1
Click for large jpg No Label
Jpeg, Tif
Click for large jpg X-ray
Jpeg, Tif
Click for large jpg Optical
Jpeg, Tif
X-ray & Optical Images of Pluto
The first detection of Pluto in X-rays has been made using Chandra in conjunction with observations from the New Horizon spacecraft as it approached and then flew by the dwarf planet in 2015. During four observations, Chandra detected low-energy X-rays from the small planet due to interactions between Pluto's atmosphere and a wind of particles from the Sun. The optical image was taken from New Horizons on its approach to Pluto, while the X-ray image of Pluto is from Chandra (not to the same scale). This result offers new insight into the environment surrounding the largest and best-known object in the Solar System's outermost regions.
(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHUAPL/R.McNutt et al; Optical: NASA/JHUAPL)


Pluto (September 14, 2016)