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The Pluto system on June 14, 2002

The Pluto system on June 14, 2002
A careful search of Hubble images taken with the ACS/HRC on June 14th, 2002, reveals two objects that are consistent with the expected locations of the newly-discovered satellites. One image (top) was taken in yellow light (555 nm) and the other (bottom) was taken in blue light (475 nm). The ellipse shows the orbital path of the new satellites derived from the May 2005 Hubble observations. The satellites should lie somewhere along this ellipse and, indeed, there are two objects along the predicted path, thus confirming the 2005 observations.

About the Object

  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    Although its orbit is highly eccentric, Pluto's average distance from the Sun is 39.44 Astronomical Units (A.U.) or roughly 3.6 billion miles (5.9 billion kilometers).
  • Dimensions
    DimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.
    Pluto has a diameter of roughly 1,475 miles (2,280 km) at the equator.

About the Data

  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    HST>ACS/HRC
  • Exposure Dates
    Exposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
    June 14, 2002
  • Filters
    FiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.
    F555N (top), and F475N (bottom)
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    Pluto
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Dwarf Planet
  • Release Date
    October 31, 2005
  • Science Release
    NASA’s Hubble Reveals Possible New Moons Around Pluto
  • Credits
    NASA, ESA, and M. Buie (Lowell Observatory)

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The Pluto system on June 14, 2002
Color Info
Color InfoA brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented.

Yellow: F555N (top) Blue: F475N (bottom)

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Details

Last Updated
Feb 17, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov