The journey to Pluto, the farthest world ever explored - Alan Stern

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As of 1989, mankind had successfully sent craft to every known planet in the solar system except one: Pluto. Located in an mysterious region called the Kuiper Belt, Pluto is a scientific goldmine, and could hold clues to the formation of our solar system. Alan Stern explains how NASA's New Horizons mission is going to allow us to see Pluto for the first time.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alan Stern
  • Director Eoin Duffy
  • 3D Animator David Zerba, Sean Kimball, Ahmed Dhanani, Pixource
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott, Elizabeth Cox
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Fact-Checker Francisco Diez
Additional Resources for you to Explore
To learn more about New Horizons and its journey through space, click here.

In this podcast episode of Gravity Assist, Jim Green speaks with the lesson's educator, Alan Stern, who was the New Horizons Principal Investigator. 

This editorial in the Washington Post, co-written by David Grinspoon and the educator, explains why Pluto should be a planet.

Want to find out more about the equipment that captured vital information on Pluto? Click here to see a picture of the Ralph instrument and here to see REX.
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Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alan Stern
  • Director Eoin Duffy
  • 3D Animator David Zerba, Sean Kimball, Ahmed Dhanani, Pixource
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott, Elizabeth Cox
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Fact-Checker Francisco Diez

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