Ultima Thule, Kuiper Belt Object
2014 MU69, nicknamed Ultima Thule, is a Kuiper Belt object discovered on June 26, 2014. The New Horizons space probe captured this image on January 1, 2019, just 7 minutes before closest approach, from a range of 4,200 miles (6,700 kilometers). The image was stored in the spacecraft's data memory and transmitted to Earth on Jan. 18-19. Scientists then sharpened the image to enhance fine detail, making it the clearest image of the object to date. The oblique lighting of this image reveals new topographic details along the day/night boundary, or terminator, near the top, including numerous small pits up to about miles ( kilometers) in diameter. The large circular feature, about 4 miles (7 kilometers) across, on the smaller of the two lobes, also appears to be a deep depression.
Size: 2589px × 1974px
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Photo credit: © Science History Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2014, astronomic, astronomical, astronomy, belt, horizons, kbo, kuiper, mission, mu69, nasa, object, space, thule, ultima
