it observed an unmistakable nimbus around Pluto that was a thin but substantial atmosphere. In this nitrogen dominated shell, scientists counted up to twenty distinct layers of air. Compare that ...

The mission confirmed that Pluto is far from a lifeless rock — it has a dynamic surface, an atmosphere, and potential ...

A blue atmosphere, smooth areas, and youthful mountain ranges - this dwarf planet is full of surprises. When NASA's New Horizons probe flew past Pluto in July 2015, the images it returned astonished ...

Factors that distinguish Pluto from the terrestrial and Jovian planets include its composition (ice, rock, and frozen gases), changing atmosphere, small size, comparatively large moon, and its ...

The relative quantities of volatile gases like methane and ethane can reveal key details about distant Kuiper Belt objects.

providing the first high-resolution images of its complex surface features and atmosphere. One of the most memorable images taken by New Horizons is that of Pluto’s "heart" feature. The heart ...

One of the most surprising finds was how thick its atmosphere was, which scientists learned only after the spacecraft passed Pluto. After flying over Pluto's surface, New Horizons turned around ...