As space-lovers everywhere continue to ponder the mysteries of the skies and our solar system, today (July 14), NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft provided the first in-detail image of Pluto.

Images even more in depth are set to be released tomorrow (July 15) and are sure to raise even more questions and theories about the former planet that resides at the outer reaches of our solar system.

The New Horizons probe began its journey back in 2006, meaning it has taken almost ten years for NASA scientists and researchers to get their first glimpse of its destination.

Of today’s accomplishment, Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator said:

The New Horizons team is proud to have accomplished the first exploration of the Pluto system. This mission has inspired people across the world with the excitement of exploration and what humankind can achieve.

NASA science chief John Grunsfield added:

This is true exploration… that view is just the first of many rewards the team will get. Pluto is an extraordinarily complex and interesting world.

The fact that a probe has now sent back images of Pluto means that, at least once, all nine planets in our solar system have been observed and paves the way for further and deeper exploration of the skies and solar systems that have fascinated so many for generations.