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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Color global portrait of Charon from Ralph MVIC

Color global portrait of Charon from Ralph MVIC
Color global portrait of Charon from Ralph MVIC New Horizons captured this high-resolution enhanced color view of Charon just before closest approach on July 14, 2015. The image combines blue, red and infrared images taken by the spacecraft's Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC); the colors are processed to best highlight the variation of surface properties across Charon. Charon's color palette is not as diverse as Pluto's; most striking is the reddish north (top) polar region. Charon is 1,214 kilometers across; this image resolves details as small as 2.9 kilometers. NASA / JHUAPL / SwRI