skies and regions of red water－ice. This is the latest in a number of remarkable

achievements and discoveries for NASA in the past year.

Kwon Jang－ho has the details. Blue skies － just like home.

These are the latest pictures of Pluto sent from the New Horizons space probe.

They show the particles in Pluto′s atmosphere dispersing sunlight to produce a hazy blue

sky. The unexpected discovery has stunned and delighted

NASA， with the probes principal investigator describing it as ′gorgeous.′

The color is helping with understanding the composition of the planet′s atmosphere.

Photos of exposed regions of red water ice have also been sent back， but NASA′s scientists

were at a loss to explain the intensity of their color， saying more research is needed.

New Horizons was launched in January 2006， and has traveled more than 3 billion miles

over 9 years， becoming the first probe to reach Pluto.

It is said to be in full working condition， and has been sending back breath－taking

pictures of the planet and its moon Charon since July.

NASA has had a remarkable year. Just two weeks ago， it announced the discovery

of flowing water on the surface of Mars， increasing the possibility of finding microscopic

life on the red planet. There was also the discovery of Kepler 452b

in July， nick－named Earth 2.0， the most Earth－like planet found till date as well

as the Rosetta Spacecraft that landed the Philae lander on the surface of a moving comet

last November. In recent years NASA has come under criticism

for high costs， failed programs and intangible benefits.

But with discoveries and pictures like these， it is helping to reawaken man′s imagination

and curiosity of the universe. Kwon Jang－Ho， Arirang News.