Pluto and Charon Flyovers

These flyover movies use some of the highest resolution images collected by the New Horizons mission during its flyby in July 2015. Images from the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were used to create topography using photoclinography; color information comes from the Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC). The simulated Pluto flyover starts near the center of the main ice sheet and covers ~500 km heading southeast. The simulated Charon flyover begins in Vulcan Planitia and covers ~500 km heading northwest. Additional description of the products can be found here.

Pluto Flyover

  Download Video (136 MB .mp4)

Simulated flight over Pluto (Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Southwest Research Institute/Lunar and Planetary Institute/Paul Schenk). Elevation differences are up to ~3.5 km between the highest and lowest points in the final scenes.

Charon Flyover

  Download Video (45 MB .mov)

Simulated flight over Charon (Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Southwest Research Institute/Lunar and Planetary Institute/Paul Schenk). Surface details are as small as ~140 m across. Elevation of mountains are ~3 to 4 km above the volcanic plains (Vulcan Planitia).

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