NASA's New Horizons spacecraft captured thrilling first-ever images of Pluto's moons, Nix and Hydra, exactly 85 years after the icy planet was first discovered.

Between Jan. 27 and Feb. 8, the craft from 125 million to 115 million miles away, according to the mission website. The images provide our best view to date of the small satellites orbiting the dwarf planet.

NASA had only just become aware Nix and Hydra existedin 2006, NBC reports. The glare from Pluto and its largest moon Charon was minimized in order to allow for a better view of the small 'dancing' moons.

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John Spencer, a New Horizons science team member and an institute scientist with the Southwest Research Institute, said, "It's thrilling to watch the details of the Pluto system emerge as we close the distance to the spacecraft's July 14 encounter. The first good view of Nix and Hydra marks another major milestone, and a perfect way to celebrate the anniversary of Pluto's discovery."

Hydra (yellow) and Nix (orange) orbit Pluto. (Photo Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute)

Hydra is Pluto's outermost moon, orbiting the dwarf planet every 38 days, and Nix orbits every 25 days, according to the mission site. Pluto has two additional small moons,StyxandKerperos, that are too faint to be seen yet.

New Horizons is expected to have itsin 143 days, on July 14, 2015, according to NASA. The craft will take a closer look at Pluto and its moons before heading even further into the Kuiper belt.

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The mission will provide vital clues as to how Pluto and other icy dwarf planets evolve and further insight into our solar system's origins.

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An infrared composite image taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Dwarf Galaxy located about 62 million light-years from Earth. This photo was taken in 2013. (NASA)