Photo of Pluto taken by the New Horizons spacecraft from a distance of 768 thousand. km (AP / AP)
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Over the past weeks, NASA bombed us shots of Pluto. Long were the annoying orange fuzzy dots that every day became, uh, larger dots. When announced yesterday morning that one of the remotest globes of the solar system, however, has appreciable size, than expected, I thought maliciously, that after so many days to pleasuring Americans finally managed to enlarge this your Pluto. But then … Then came the first photo showing him so clearly that you can see on the surface beautiful geological structures – craters, desert plateaus, dark “sea”, and finally clear, having 1 thousand. m in diameter than the heart, than the tail of a whale. This image – clear, though photograph was taken on holiday, but made by the New Horizons spacecraft from a distance, bagatelle, 768 thous. km! – Impressive electrifying.
And it gets better. Yesterday, the probe flew barely 12.5 thousand. km above the surface of Pluto (and sped farther into space). She performed at the same time a long series of photographs, some of which we can see today.
I hope that arouse in us such emotions that have arouse scientists who several years ago had planned the New Horizons mission. Who enrolled probe’s onboard computer commands ordering her execution strictly planned maneuvers on the borders of the solar system (because the length of time the radio transmission between Earth and Pluto were unable to control your ship manually – it’s finally up to 4.5 billion km, 4, 2 hrs. of light!). Who nine and a half years ago, the probe fired toward Pluto and over the years (not) patiently waiting for the results of their work. Well, who shortly after the start of the ship – in 2006. – Had to survive dethroned “their” world by the International Astronomical Union – because according to the new definition, Pluto hardly deserved to be called a “dwarf planet.”
Yesterday’s passage of the probe New Horizons Pluto wheel is an epoch-making event that can only be compared to landing a man on the moon. It’s true – neither on Pluto not landed, or did not send in its surrounding people. But despite all images of its surface aroused admiration of millions of people around the world. We reminded me also that curiosity and desire to explore the unknown is the essence of human nature. That without these traits of our character still be sitting in damp caves and narzekalibyśmy, as it is hopeless. That when the first man made the first small step to leave your grajdołek, the humanity made its first big step.
Therefore, we set ourselves ambitious goals and are not necessarily practical. After landing on the moon and the first clear photographs of Pluto’s time to man to set foot on Mars. And – for now – safely returned to Earth.
Why so look for?
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Today, ie. On July 15, the channel Nation.Geog.Channel, from hour: 00:55 ‘is a great program for this space mission. Currently I am watching him …