Pluto’s dark side reveals clues to its atmosphere and frost cycles

Planetary scientists used light from Pluto’s moon Charon to illuminate the shadows

image of Pluto's dark side

As the New Horizons spacecraft sped past Pluto, it looked back and took this silhouetted shot. Along with newly processed images that provide a dim peek at the planet’s dark side, the images reveal details of Pluto's hazy nitrogen atmosphere.

SwRI, JHUAPL, NASA

Pluto’s dark side has come into dim view, thanks to the light of the dwarf planet’s moon.