Pluto Palooza Logo
The American Geographical Society Library (AGSL) presents an exhibit on the exploration of the outer solar system, today, July 8 through July 17, 2015 as NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft approaches Pluto.
NASA launched its probe on Jan. 19, 2006. After 3,455 days and nearly 3-billion miles, the spacecraft is now less than a week away from its historic encounter with Pluto and its moons. The closest approach to Pluto is scheduled for July 14, 2015.
To celebrate this historic journey to this distant world, the UWM Libraries’ AGSL has set up an exhibit of icy moon maps produced from Voyager and Cassini, two previous NASA missions to the outer solar system.
This exhibit will also feature a live feed of images from the New Horizons mission as the encounter takes place.
The New Horizons mission seeks to understand where Pluto and its moons “fit in” with the other objects in the solar system, such as the inner rocky planets (Earth, Mars, Venus and Mercury) and the outer gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune).
Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, belong to a third category known as “ice dwarfs.” They have solid surfaces but, unlike the terrestrial planets, a significant portion of their mass is icy material.
New Horizons will be the first reconnaissance of the dwarf planet Pluto. It will study the geology of the planet and its moons, map surface composition, measure temperature and study its atmosphere. After its encounter with Pluto the New Horizons spacecraft will venture deeper into the distant the edge of our solar system, the Kuiper Belt.
AGSL, located on the third floor east wing of the UWM Golda Meir Library, 2311 E. Hartford Ave., is open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information, email agsl@uwm.edu or call 414-229-6282.
stepping outside to observe 