Image Credit: NASAJHUAPL

The New Horizons spacecraft took this incredible picture of Jupiter’s moon IO recently.  See the volcanic plume at the top of the moon?  Io is massaged by the planet Jupiter as the little moon’s orbit takes it closer and then further away.

The New Horizons spacecraft is on its way to Pluto and is scheduled to arrive in the summer of 2015.

I’ve been a little tardy with my posts lately.  A lot has been happening.  First there was International Astronomy Day and then the North East Astronomical Forum which takes place in Suffern, New York.  I went down with my friend Casey to interview participants and record the event for everyone.  Soon we’ll have some video ready to air on AstroShorts.com.

Credit:

Johns 

Hopkins 

University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute (JHUAPL/SwRI)Today, the New Horizons robotic probe received a gravitational assist from the planet Jupiter.  This slingshot maneuver added considerable speed to the probe which is headed for a rendezvous with Pluto in the year 2015.   

Now traveling at over 23 kilometres per second, New Horizons is the fastest thing we’ve ever made.  At this rate of speed, my one hour commute to work could be done in about 3 seconds!

While at Pluto, New Horizons will determine the composition of our mysterious former 9th Planet along with its partner Charon and moons P1 and P2.  Other science possibilities in the Kuiper Belt region of our solar system may present themselves later. 

The engineers and scientists on this project should be congratulated on their wonderful achievements so far.  Imagine what it must be like for them to wait and wait to 2015 to see how it all turns out.  Talk about a long deadline!

 Image Credit:  NASA