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New Horizons Space Probe Sends Back First Color Image of Pluto

A drawing shows the New Horizons spacecraft approaching Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, in July 2015.
NASA

April 15, 2015, 3:20 PM

 -- NASA's New Horizons space probe sent its first color image of Pluto back to Earth after a nearly decade-long journey through space to reach the dwarf planet.

Taken from 71 million miles away, the photo shows two bright specs -- Pluto and its largest moon Charon, which NASA said is about the same size as Texas.

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New Horizons is preparing for a July 14 rendezvous with Pluto. When it reaches its destination, NASA said it expects New Horizons will send back detailed color images showing surface features as close as a few miles across.

This image of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, taken by the Ralph color imager aboard NASA's New Horizons spacecraft on April 9, is the first color image ever made of the Pluto system by a spacecraft on approach.

After a journey stretching 3 billion miles, New Horizons probe woke from hibernation in December to prepare for the final stretch of its trip.

New Horizons blasted off for its long haul mission on Jan. 19, 2006, atop an Atlas V rocket, back when Pluto still enjoyed status as a planet. Scientists later that year voted to demote Pluto to a "dwarf planet."

During its epic trip, New Horizons has spent two-thirds of the time sleeping, taking a total of 18 naps, which helps NASA preserve the systems on board.