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The Pluto system taken by the Keck telescope in Hawaii. (streaks are stars & galaxies)
Keck's telescopes have adaptive optics, meaning the 36 hexagonal segments in each 'scope move to compensate for atmospheric distortions. In addition to this 16 images were combined them into a single picture by its image processing software, resulting in the sharpest images so far of the Pluto system.
Charon at bottom right, Nix and Hydra at top right (Hydra is the brighter)
Lots for New Horizons to do when it gets there in July 2015, and given its performance at Jupiter it'll do better than planned.
Keck telescope
One of Keck's mirrors (note the guy in the crane)
Keck's telescopes have adaptive optics, meaning the 36 hexagonal segments in each 'scope move to compensate for atmospheric distortions. In addition to this 16 images were combined them into a single picture by its image processing software, resulting in the sharpest images so far of the Pluto system.
Charon at bottom right, Nix and Hydra at top right (Hydra is the brighter)
Lots for New Horizons to do when it gets there in July 2015, and given its performance at Jupiter it'll do better than planned.
Keck telescope
One of Keck's mirrors (note the guy in the crane)