Exploring Pluto's surface | Planet Explorers | BBC Earth

WHAT WE SAW BLEW OUR MINDS.

The inside story of the incredible discoveries and near-misses of the New Horizons mission to Pluto. Dr Carly Howett runs the camera on the space probe that revealed an entirely unexpected world.

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[alexnaturalis]

These scientists are so full of enthusiasm and joy under the harshest and most challenging missions. How do they keep optimistic with the perspective that a decade worth of work could be for nothing? It's almost naive as a child's curiosity and a true testament to humanity's hope for a brighter future. Inspiring!

[nozyspy]

As a kid seeing what Pluto's surface looked like was one of the things i always wanted to see.I was so excited when the first images came back in 2015, stunning achievement!

[y_fam_goeglyd]

Whenever I get depressed about the idiocy out there, especially the science denialism, I remember events like this and I feel like there is hope for the future.

[MajorasWrath]

Space is the very essence of the word "beautiful."

Even if I was born too early to sail among the stars, these microscopic glimpses into the cosmic ocean fill me with such awe, I can live with it.

Thank you to NASA and all who turn their gaze upward.

[davee.]

It always impresses me how smart and how dedicated those men and women are. Imagine how much pressure they were under, I would be a mess.

[kiarasmyth]

Here again after they’ve discovered ice volcanos.. what a time to be alive I am forever in awe.

[jackoo]

What a privilege to watch these beautiful clips/pics! Life and Universe are truly mesmerizing!

[TheAllyMor]

Difficult for us mere mortals to appreciate the enormity of this scientific feat.

[MrFossilabgfyth]

Pluto is beautiful, before this I used to believe Pluto was just a large ice ball since it was far from the Sun. But I was wrong! Also, my dad saw all of the missions of the planets being photographed. This was my first experience of this. Due to it's completely alien beauty and wonders, Pluto is one of my favorite celestial bodies alongside Mars, "I say that because Pluto is no longer a planet." Love Pluto!

[AllgoodthingsTv]

She said it was colder than you could imagine on Pluto - it would've been nice to have a ballpark figure just to know. Incredible work these folks are doing!

[Catwoman]

So cool, I hope we get to see more of pluto soon!

[sovereign]

Just being able to observe and see clear pictures of a planet that is so unfathomably far away from ours is definitely cathartic. It reminds me of how small we are in the grand scheme of things.

[outofahat]

I'm so grateful to be alive at a moment in time where we able to see this wonderful disk in such great detail

[georgeisfullyamazing]

Watching the New Horizons launch live when I was 8 years old kickstarted my obsession with space. Thinking about how all the scientists would patiently wait for nearly 10 years until getting even just a picture, was mind blowing to me.
I’d nearly finished high school when it arrived at Pluto, and still hearing stories like these fuels my never-ending passion for the universe.

Thank you Alan Stern and Carly Howett for changing my life

[BlackStar]

Oh god, I just remember that day. And those very detailed images from Pluto. They are so amazing <3

[stephenbrand]

I can still remember just having to imagine what Pluto looked like as a kid who started elementary school in 1990. Even by the time I graduated college we STILL had no idea, that Hubble "image" wasn't even close!!

[Trathaal]

Pluto will always be a planet in my heart ❤️

[ruzahel]

Always loves documentaries about our solar system. This just sparked the enthusiasm I had as a child.

[sapphire]

Can we just appreciate them for the effort they put in their videos.

[edwinmiller]

The segmentation of the smooth surface almost looked like plant cells that I looked at in science class. beautiful. Would love to have an hd live feed that holds in its orbit.