>>10868639Because often (and in the specific case of New Horizons w/ the Pluto system), the probe is passing by very fast, and only being close to them for very short periods, not to mention the fact that it's *very* dark out there.
New Horizons had a closest approach of about 13,000km, and that was only for a little while, as it was a flyby. Taking a picture with a normal camera, if you could even aim it right, would leave you with a low resolution, dim, motion blurred image.
This is all assuming that it used modern cameras, which it didn't (New Horizons used tech from the late 80's and early-mid 90's), and that this normal camera that they packed could withstand both years of being at extreme temperatures and radiation, without going wrong at all.
Also all planets are cubes, and NASA doesn't want you to know.
