#TBT when NASA New Horizons first spotted the reddish polar region on #Pluto’s moon, Charon. NASA's #NewHorizons #spacecraft captured this high-resolution, enhanced color view of Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, just before closest approach on July 14, 2015. The image combines blue, red and infrared images taken by the spacecraft's Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC); the #colors are processed to best highlight the variation of surface properties across Charon. #Scientists have learned that reddish material in the north (top) polar region – informally named Mordor Macula – is chemically processed methane that escaped from Pluto’s atmosphere onto Charon. #Charon is 754 miles (1,214 kilometers) across; this image resolves details as small as 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers). Credits: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI #blue #infrared #pluto #photography #deepspace #explore