NASA Releases Closest Image of Pluto Before the Historic Flyby of the New Horizons Mission

Pluto sent a love note back to Earth via @NASANewHorizons. This is the last image taken before today’s #PlutoFlyby. pic.twitter.com/a2AE20LHcR

— NASA (@NASA) July 14, 2015

NASA has released the last image taken of the dwarf planet Pluto before the historic flyby of the New Horizons mission that occurred at 7:49:57am ET on July 14, 2015, more than nine years after launching on January 19, 2006 and travelling over three billion miles from Earth.

NASA also released a video featuring members of the New Horizons team recapping the mission in the final minutes before the probe reached its closest approach of 7,800 miles.

YES! After over 9 years & 3+ billion miles, @NASANewHorizons #PlutoFlyby was at 7:49am ET. http://t.co/Czrvonxugd pic.twitter.com/aSucgORofT

— NASA (@NASA) July 14, 2015

image via NASA