After nine years and a journey of 4.8 billion km, NASA's New Horizons robotic probe awoke from
hibernation on 6 Dec 2014 to begin an unprecedented mission to study the icy dwarf planet Pluto
and sibling worlds in its Kuiper Belt home.
The scientific observation of Pluto, its entourage of moons and other bodies in the solar
system's frozen backyard begins January 15, program managers said. The closest approach is
expected on July 14 this year.
Pluto lies in the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy mini-planets orbiting the sun beyond Neptune
that are believed to be leftover remains from the formation of the solar system some 4.6
billion years ago. It is the last unexplored region of the solar system.
In 2006, with New Horizons already on its way, Pluto was stripped of its title as the ninth
planet in the solar system and became a dwarf planet, of which more than 1,000 have since been
discovered in the Kuiper Belt.
With New Horizons approaching Pluto's doorstep, scientists are eager for their first close-up
look at this unexplored domain.
hibernation on 6 Dec 2014 to begin an unprecedented mission to study the icy dwarf planet Pluto
and sibling worlds in its Kuiper Belt home.
The scientific observation of Pluto, its entourage of moons and other bodies in the solar
system's frozen backyard begins January 15, program managers said. The closest approach is
expected on July 14 this year.
Pluto lies in the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy mini-planets orbiting the sun beyond Neptune
that are believed to be leftover remains from the formation of the solar system some 4.6
billion years ago. It is the last unexplored region of the solar system.
In 2006, with New Horizons already on its way, Pluto was stripped of its title as the ninth
planet in the solar system and became a dwarf planet, of which more than 1,000 have since been
discovered in the Kuiper Belt.
With New Horizons approaching Pluto's doorstep, scientists are eager for their first close-up
look at this unexplored domain.
