Pluto's Haze Layer, MVIC Image
Pluto's haze layer shows its blue color in this picture taken by the New Horizons Ralph/Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC). The high-altitude haze is thought to be similar in nature to that seen at Saturn's moon Titan. The source of both hazes likely involves sunlight-initiated chemical reactions of nitrogen and methane, leading to relatively small, soot-like particles (called tholins) that grow as they settle toward the surface. This image was generated by software that combines information from blue, red and near-infrared images to replicate the color a human eye would perceive as closely as possible. Release date October 8, 2015.
Size: 3750px × 3750px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2015, 134340, 2010s, 21st, astronomical, astronomy, belt, body, camera, celestial, century, deep, dwarf, haze, heavenly, horizons, image, imaging, kuiper, layer, mission, multispectral, mvic, object, planet, plutino, pluto, plutoid, plutonian, science, sky, space, trans-neptunian, visible
