Nasa has released a detailed image of Pluto taken by solar-powered spacecraft New Horizons, which was launched by the space station over 9 years ago, in a mission which cost $700 million. 

The spacecraft travelled past Pluto at 14km per second and was closest to the dwarf planet at around 12.50am Irish time today.

As well as taking pictures, the New Horizons spacecraft will take samples of the solar winds and magnetic fields in Pluto's vicinity and measure atmospheric dust. 

The spacecraft will continue to take images and collect data of the dwarf planet until just after midnight on Wednesday.

Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006, however, New Horizon's fly-by mission has been called a key moment in the history of space exploration. 

Our 3-billion-mile journey to Pluto reaches historic #PlutoFly! Details & the high-res image: http://t.co/qX7KpXIUUQ pic.twitter.com/LDjXLtPdly

— NASA (@NASA) July 14, 2015