NASA often shares amazing photos on their social media platforms. A recent post from the agency on its Instagram account shows a rainbow-coloured image of a celestial body that has surprised the Internet. The thing that looks like a circular planet is Pluto, which is at the far end of our solar system. The image shared by NASA shows different sections of Pluto with rainbow colors and stunning effects.
In the post, NASA said: “Where does the rainbow end?
He added: “Pluto has a complex and varied surface with mixed mountains reminiscent of Europe, networks of carved valleys, ancient cratered terrain next to new smooth icy plains, and even what might be wind-caused dunes.” .
The image was clicked by NASA’s New Horizons space probe launched in 2006. NASA said the spacecraft conducted a six-month flyby study of Pluto and its moons in the summer of 2015. “The spacecraft continues to explore the distant solar system, heading farther into the Kuiper belt.” .
The post received over 7.8 lakh likes in a single day. Users can be seen admiring the beauty of Pluto and the color scheme applied by the space agency.
One user wrote: “Oh my God, this is so beautiful.” Another said, “Congratulations Pluto on getting out! Proud of you, mate.”
In 2019, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) downgraded Pluto to a dwarf planet because it did not meet the three criteria the organization uses to define a full-size planet.
IAU’s three criteria for a planet of normal size are: it orbits the sun, has enough mass to withstand hydrostatic equilibrium (a nearly circular shape), and has “cleaned neighborhood” around its orbit. Pluto did not meet the third criterion.