NASA releases first close-up images of Pluto and its moons from New Horizons probe

Nasa has released the first close-up images of Pluto and her moons from the #Plutoflyby mission.

Almost three billion miles away and nine years on, here are some of the breathtaking images sent from Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft.

Here are the most recent shots beamed back to Earth from the probe.

Hydra.

Methane map of Pluto.

Speaking live on television, the team revealed that they have been informally referring to the dark patch near the north pole of Charon as Mordor.

Towards the North East they identified 600 miles of troughs and cliffs.

At the two o’clock position scientists pointed out a canyon estimated to be about 4-6 miles deep. And another at the 11 o’clock position which is less deep.