NEW HORIZONS MVIC KEM1: Raw Images of Arrokoth and Pluto from 2018-2022

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft captured raw multispectral visible images during its KEM1 mission phase. The dataset includes functional tests, images of the approach and departure of Arrokoth, a look back at Pluto, and calibration scans of Neptune, Uranus, and stars. Data was acquired between August 14, 2018, and April 30, 2022, and downlinked before May 1, 2022.

Use Cases

• Analyzing surface features and composition of Arrokoth based on multispectral imagery.
• Studying Pluto's atmosphere and surface from a distance based on the look-back observations.
• Performing radiometric calibration of instruments based on solar star and radiometric calibration data.
• Comparing spectral properties of outer planets based on color scans of Neptune and Uranus.

Strengths

• Data spans a specific 4-year acquisition period from 08/14/2018 to 04/30/2022.
• Includes observations of multiple celestial targets: Arrokoth, Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus.
• Version 6.0 indicates iterative processing and quality improvements.

Limitations

• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data is limited to what was downlinked before 05/01/2022; later downlinks are excluded.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Acquired by the New Horizons Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC) instrument.

Time Range

08/14/2018 to 04/30/2022

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 04:37:24.947845; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Outer Solar System (Kuiper Belt, Pluto, Neptune, Uranus)