Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have Finally Reached Pluto

[Fanghawk]

Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have Finally Reached Pluto

NASA's New Horizon probe has completed the three billion mile, nine year journey to Pluto, taking the planet's best picture yet.

Whether you consider Pluto <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/133271-Dwarf-Planet-Discovered-in-Our-Solar-System-Hints-at-Larger-Planet>to be a planet or not, it has a significant position in our solar system: The edge, roughly three billion miles away. That makes reaching this world a hugely significant moment for space travel, proving we can reach our stellar neighbors or beyond. For that reason, the scientific community is incredibly excited <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/139482-NASA-New-Horizon-Probe-Pluto-Sony-PlayStation-CPU>that NASA's New Horizon probe arrived at the distant body after a nine-year journey - sending back the clearest photos of the dwarf planet that we've ever seen.

"Pluto has turned out to be an extraordinarily complex and interesting world," said John Grunsfeld, NASA associate administrator for science. And we're inclined to agree - this world is covered with mounds, craters, and what appears to be snow-colored mountains. Team leader Alan Stern even noted that there are signs of tectonic activity, raising all kinds of new questions about Pluto's secrets.

The downside is that outside of this one image, we have no idea what New Horizons is finding on Pluto. The probe was programmed to cut all communications with Earth as of Monday at 11:17 pm, so it could focus entirely on gathering scientific data. If all goes well, New Horizons will resume contact at about 8:53 pm today - assuming it hasn't collided with anything along the way.

The New Horizons team was originally aiming for a space 7800 miles from Pluto's surface, but ended up 40 miles closer than planned. The probe is still in an ideal lighting position, but many researchers are still anxiously awaiting new results. "I have to pinch myself," mission operations Alice Bowman said. "Look what we accomplished. It's truly amazing humankind can go out and explore these worlds, and see Pluto revealed just before our eyes. It's just fantastic."

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Source: <a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/new-horizons-finally-makes-it-to-pluto-sees-craters-and-great-mounds/2015/07/14/9bcb0f04-2a1f-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html>Washington Post

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[Katherine Kerensky]

NASA's New Horizon probe has completed the three billion, nine year journey to Pluto, taking the planet's best picture yet.

Three billion and nine years?
Damn, NASA has been going longer than most people knew.

 

[Fanghawk]

NASA's New Horizon probe has completed the three billion, nine year journey to Pluto, taking the planet's best picture yet.

Three billion and nine years?
Damn, NASA has been going longer than most people knew.

Yes, missed a key word in there. It's fixed, thanks.

 

[Bindal]

A nine year journey? Well, that's a lot. I mean, sure, NASA has a few things going that run for probably even longer, but that doesn't mean this isn't impressive, either. And we finally get to see Pluto, even if he's been demoted since they launched this whole thing.

I'm just waiting for the obvious Mickey Mouse jokes now...

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

We must commence search for plutonians beneath the surface immediatly. That activity could be of the mining sort. They might have an economy, even daughters to marry off for future inter-planetary relations! We could still be saved from our own horrid mistakes as of yet! Though they might make fun of us and call us "Polluto."

 

[CardinalPiggles]

Great, when can we move in? I'm sick of this heat.

 

[Dalek Caan]

9 years? Wonder what kind of camera that thing has on-board. Must be a bit outdated by now.

 

[FalloutJack]

The tectonic activity surprises me, as it would anyone, really.

>_>

<_<

...It's the Mi-go!

 

[Lightknight]

I am simply astounded that I get to live in a time where I can see close up and high res images of other planets and celestial objects from Pluto to comets to all the big boys in our solar system. What an age of wonder we live in.

 

[talker]

We must commence search for plutonians beneath the surface immediatly. That activity could be of the mining sort. They might have an economy, even daughters to marry off for future inter-planetary relations!

We might get the chance to bone Green Alien Space Babes within the next twenty five years! Commander Shepard would be proud.

 

[enginieri]

Looks exactly like a planet... Pluto is a planet I say.. a planet!! NANANANANANA (plug ears)

 

[Grahav]

Pluto and it is five satellites:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/13/science/space/photos-of-pluto-from-nasa-new-horizons.html?_r=0

Really cool names.

Spoiler

 

[Something Amyss]

This is so freaking cool.

Three billion and nine years?
Damn, NASA has been going longer than most people knew.

National Ancient Stargate Association. Space exploration is a rather recent development.

Yes, missed a key word in there. It's fixed, thanks.

Sounds like Big Goa'uld got to you!

<.<

Though honestly, the scale is so massive here it kinda seems like it'd fit.

Looks exactly like a planet... Pluto is a planet I say.. a planet!! NANANANANANA (plug ears)

That's no planet...it's a battlestation!

 

[Frankster]

I can imagine the scientist behind this, having spent decades working on this project and finally seeing it reach fruition... Excited he calls in a press conference, wearing his best shirt with women in skimpy outfits on it, a gift from a friend. His voice quivering with emotion, he begins "Ladies and gentlemen, we have finally done it, we have reached the planet Pluto.."

"Pluto is no longer a planet! Also your shirt is sexist and we don't care about what you've done!"

*scientist is distraught as both his life dream and his fashion sense gets mocked*

"WTF!!! I've wasted years of my life for nothing!!!!!!" *scientist flips over table and goes in a rampage*

 

[Saltyk]

So baring a malfunction of the probe being hit by something unforeseen we should be getting images soon. -ish. From what I read this will be 16 months worth of data to comb through.

I'm actually quite interested in this. We know so little about Pluto in all honesty. Poor little guy is so antisocial and depressed since NASA demoted him from a planet.

 

[RicoADF]

Poor little guy is so antisocial and depressed since NASA demoted him from a planet.

I've never understood the issue with this. It's not 'demoted' or down graded, just reclassified as a dwarf planet. Dwarf as the dictionary states "of unusually small stature or size; diminutive.", so basically their calling it a small planet which is what Pluto and it's other dwarf planets are.
If it was reclassified as a moon then yes people would have something to complain about.

 

[Major_Tom]

So we confirmed that Charon is a mass relay?

 

[Pyrian]

It's not 'demoted' or down graded, just reclassified as a dwarf planet.

It's much stranger than you're insinuating. Dwarf stars... Are still stars. Dwarf galaxies are galaxies. A dwarf goat is still a goat. In general, a Dwarf X is still an X. Except for Pluto.

 

[Strazdas]

Is it time for "Worth the wait" jokes yet? It is pretty cool that we got to the last planet too (it is a planet damnit)

Poor little guy is so antisocial and depressed since NASA demoted him from a planet.

I've never understood the issue with this. It's not 'demoted' or down graded, just reclassified as a dwarf planet. Dwarf as the dictionary states "of unusually small stature or size; diminutive.", so basically their calling it a small planet which is what Pluto and it's other dwarf planets are.
If it was reclassified as a moon then yes people would have something to complain about.

Of course its a demotion. now Pluto is the only dwarf and is now bullied by other planets for being a dwarf. I mean i understand why they did it but it sure is demotion.