Feast your eyes on NASA's stunning 'farewell to Pluto' photo

NASA just released a new photo of everyone's favorite dwarf planet.
 By 
Karissa Bell
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

NASA just released a new photo of everyone's favorite dwarf planet, and it's something to behold.

Taken from 120,000 miles behind Pluto by NASA's New Horizons, the shot perfectly captures Pluto's blue haze.

The photo's the result of six black-and-white photos stitched together, with color added from separate photos taken in July 2015, just hours after the New Horizons spacecraft made its closest approach to Pluto, NASA says.

This allowed scientists to get one of their best shots yet of the dwarf planet's blue haze. The haze, backlit by the light of the sun, is caused by the same phenomenon that makes haze here on Earth sometimes look blue, scientists say. If you look closely, the haze also illuminates Pluto's mountains (near the top left side of the image.)

"Sunlight casts dramatic and beautiful finger-like shadows from many of these features onto the haze," New Horizons writes.

NASA has dubbed the photo a "farewell to Pluto" because of its unique angle that captured almost the entire silhouette of the dwarf planet, not because it's going anywhere. So Pluto fans need not worry —it won't be the last incredible Pluto photo we see from New Horizons. There's surely more to come.

Mashable Image
Karissa Bell

Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Watch: We smashed Pluto TV's holiday rage room
Kristy Puchko smashing products at the Pluto TV Rage Room

Artemis 2 crew could be the first to ever lay eyes on these lunar areas
LRO observing Mare Orientale on the far side of the moon


NASA preparing for its first crewed Moon mission in 50 years
A group of Artemis II astronauts in orange suits walk out of a building guarded by armed soldiers.


More in Science
How to watch Chelsea vs. Port Vale online for free
Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea reacts

How to watch 'Wuthering Heights' at home: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's controversial romance now streaming
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi embracing in still from "Wuthering Heights"

How to watch New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers online for free
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders warms up

How to watch Mexico vs. Belgium online for free
Israel Reyes of Mexico reacts

How to watch Brazil vs. Croatia online for free
Vinicius Junior #10 of Brazil leaves

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone


Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!