NASA Paints Pluto Wild With Color


29 November, 2015

NASA, the U.S. agency that explores outer space, calls this image "Psychedelic Pluto." Pluto is the furthest planet in our solar system. The word "psychedelic" means bright, edgy colors, and Pluto looks pretty wild in this image. The New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto and sent pictures back to Earth. NASA's New Horizon scientists manipulated this image of Pluto. It highlights the many different areas on Pluto. The pictures were taken 35,000 kilometers away from the planet with the spacecraft's Ralph/MVIC color camera. It was captured on July 14, 2015. On Earth, that is Bastille Day, which celebrates French independence.


The New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto and sent pictures back to Earth. NASA’s New Horizon scientists manipulated this image of Pluto. It highlights the many different areas on Pluto. Image Credit: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI

Anne Ball reported this story. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

What do you think of Psychedelic Pluto? We want to hear from you in the Comments section and on 51VOA.COM.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

outer space –n. the area beyond Earth's atmosphere where there are planets and stars

psychedelic –adj. the effects of certain drugs that bring bright colors and strange sounds.

edgy –adj. a new and unusual way

spacecraft –n. a vehicle used to travel in outer space

manipulated – v. to change something

highlight –v. to bring attention to