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Planet or not, we know next to nothing about Pluto. It’s too far away and too small to make out anything more through our telescopes than an icy blob, and it’s the only planet (sorry—former planet) never to be visited by a spacecraft. The New Horizons probe is carrying seven instruments to explore the mysterious realm that Pluto inhabits, and it’s moving there in a hurry. Soon after its launch in January, it hit 36,000 mph, making it the fastest spacecraft ever launched. It will pass by Jupiter this spring but won’t reach Pluto for another nine years. pluto.jhuapl.edu
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