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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Comparison between 1994 and 2002-3 maps of Pluto

Comparison between 1994 and 2002-3 maps of Pluto
Comparison between 1994 and 2002-3 maps of Pluto This animation blinks back and forth between two maps of Pluto's surface derived from Hubble Space Telescope observations. One map was generated from four images captured in 1994 using Hubble's Faint Object Camera, while the other was generated from 192 images captured in 2002 and 2003 using Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. During the time that separated the two sets of observations, Pluto's surface changed noticeably. Also, the season advanced, bringing more of the south pole into winter darkness. NASA / ESA / M. Buie (SwRI) / animation by Emily Lakdawalla