New Horizons measures the darkness of deep space

New Horizons, the mission that swept past Pluto in 2015 and then into the deep outer solar system, has now measured the background light of the universe. Artist’s concept via NASA.

• The one-and-only earthly craft ever to visit Pluto – New Horizons – is now far beyond our solar system’s planets. It’s more than 5.4 billion miles from Earth, headed toward interstellar space.
• Its view isn’t much obscured now, either by sunlight or by interplanetary dust scattering the light of the stars.