NASA: New Horizons to Arrive at Pluto and Charon in Just Two Weeks

New Horizons is closing in on Pluto, and will soon get the best information to date on the tiny dwarf planet. In just two weeks New Horizons will arrive at Pluto and its moon, Charon.

On July 7 through 12, New Horizons will make its final approach to Pluto and on July 14, the spacecraft will finally arrive at the dwarf planet. It will then fly past Pluto and gather data on the planet and its moons.

As the spacecraft approaches, it's receiving better and better images that it's beaming back to Earth. Already, NASA has released images that show that Pluto may just have a white patch close to its pole that could be frozen methane or water ice.

"The unambiguous detection of bright and dark terrain units on both Pluto and Charon indicates a wide range of diverse landscapes across the pair," said Jeff Moore of NASA Ames Research Center, in a news release. "For example, the bright fringe we see on Pluto may represent frost deposited from an evaporating polar cap, which is now in summer sun."

Charon and Pluto both affect one another in their orbits. As New Horizons flies past Pluto, it will be able to determine exactly what kind of orbits these bodies have, and will get a better view of what kind of terrain exists on both Charon and Pluto.

Until July 14, though, scientists wait with bated breath to learn more about the pair.

For more information about the New Horizons mission, visit NASA's website.

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