Below is a video created in Codea, using an actual terrain map of Pluto, to simulate the spacecraft approach to the (dwarf) planet. There is a long slow approach, then a very fast flyby, then Pluto disappears again. Make it full screen to feel the loneliness of space.
Pluto looks a bit like a jellyfish or a parachute, because the bottom is in shadow. As the spacecraft passes, Pluto hangs there momentarily as the camera keeps turning to face it.
I didn’t include the moon Charon, because there is no published map yet, and because getting the orbit right would be tricky.
It’s quite easy to create this, or a simulation of the earth, if you have the right image. I’ll do a post on it shortly.
In real life, the spacecraft was going too fast to go into orbit. I believe the closest approach took only 15 minutes - after a 10 year journey!
What I found surprising, given that the camera simply goes in a straight line past the sphere, always looking at it, was how the sphere comes up and almost hits you in the face. It’s a pity they couldn’t do a time lapse movie!