Max Mutchler at Space Telescope Science Institute

Max Mutchler

Space Telescope Science Institute
3700 San Martin Drive
Baltimore, Maryland 21218
Operated by AURA for NASA

mutchler@stsci.edu
410-338-1321

Pluto, Charon, and newly discovered moons

Watch the new moons play "peek-a-boo" in the Hubble images below!

"Clean" median combination of the 4 "raw" frames below. Charon is to the right of Pluto (both are overexposed). New moons are at 12 and 10 o'clock.

Long exposure 1 on May 15. New moons hidden in interchip gap. Many cosmic rays, star trails, and other artifacts are evident.

Long exposure 2 on May 15. Same pointing as above.

Long exposure 3 on May 15. Shift across the gap. New moons visible at 10 and 12 o'clock!

Long exposure 4 on May 15. Same pointing as above. New moons still visible.

Sum (no rejection) combination of the 4 frames above

"Clean" median combination of the 4 frames below. Charon is to the left of Pluto (both are overexposed). New moons are at 10:30 and 9 o'clock.

Long exposure 1 on May 18. Moon Charon is now on the opposite side of Pluto. Moon P2 is at 9 oclock. Moon P1 is hidden in gap.

Long exposure 2 on May 18. Same pointing as above.

Long exposure 3 on May 18. Shift across the gap. Moon P1 is visible at 10:30. Moon P2 is hidden in gap.

Long exposure 4 on May 18. Same pointing as above.

Sum (no rejection) combination of the 4 frames above

May 15 and 18 clean images combined. Moons visible at locations on both dates.