Watch: NASA's New Horizons spacecraft makes historic flyby of Pluto

NASA's unmanned spacecraft, New Horizons in a historic moment made its closest shave with the dwarf planet Pluto on Tuesday, July 14th at 7:49am ET.

Washington: NASA’s probe made history on Tuesday as the first spacecraft ever to reach distant dwarf planet - the last unexplored world in solar system. NASA's unmanned spacecraft, New Horizons in a significant moment made its closest shave with the dwarf planet Pluto on Tuesday, July 14th at 7:49am ET.

YES! After over 9 years & 3+ billion miles, @NASANewHorizons #PlutoFlyby was at 7:49am ET. http://t.co/Czrvonxugd pic.twitter.com/aSucgORofT

— NASA (@NASA) July 14, 2015

The spacecraft crossed Pluto from a distance of about 12,500 km at around 5 p.m. (Indian standard Time). NASA posted a stunning new image of Pluto on Instagram, taken by New Horizons from a distance of 476,000 miles. The Mars-like reddish hue, and the enigmatic heart-shaped feature can be clearly seen on its surface.

Pluto sent a love note back to Earth via @NASANewHorizons. This is the last image taken before today's #PlutoFlyby. pic.twitter.com/a2AE20LHcR — NASA (@NASA) July 14, 2015

New Horizons has taken more than nine years to reach Pluto, carrying with it the ashes of the astronomer who discovered the remote icy object in 1930.

New Horizons is expected to snap new images providing scientists with more clues about Pluto's terrain, however the spacecraft will also be gathering information on Pluto's Texas-sized moon, Charon, and its smaller moons Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra.

Watch NASA's live streaming here:

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