New Horizons images reveal a young Pluto surface
Posted: Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 10:56 AM ET (1456 GMT)
Images taken by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft during its flyby of Pluto July 14 show that parts of the surface are surprisingly young, suggesting recent geological activity there. Images released Friday of a plain dubbed Sputnik Planum show a series of irregular polygons surrounded by shallow troughs. Scientists believe the terrain must be very young, given the lack of impact craters, and could be formed by convection below the surface or contraction of the surface. Other data from the spacecraft showed that the only concentration of carbon monoxide ice on the surface is within the heart-shaped region called Tombaugh Regio. Scientists also released the first image of Nix, one of Pluto's smaller moons, revealing it to be elongated. Project scientists said they will be releasing images on a weekly basis going forward, with the spacecraft taking up to 16 months to return all the data it collected.
Images taken by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft during its flyby of Pluto July 14 show that parts of the surface are surprisingly young, suggesting recent geological activity there. Images released Friday of a plain dubbed Sputnik Planum show a series of irregular polygons surrounded by shallow troughs. Scientists believe the terrain must be very young, given the lack of impact craters, and could be formed by convection below the surface or contraction of the surface. Other data from the spacecraft showed that the only concentration of carbon monoxide ice on the surface is within the heart-shaped region called Tombaugh Regio. Scientists also released the first image of Nix, one of Pluto's smaller moons, revealing it to be elongated. Project scientists said they will be releasing images on a weekly basis going forward, with the spacecraft taking up to 16 months to return all the data it collected.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, June 28
Sierra Space Opens Solar Power Plant To Support Defense Work
Aviation Week — 6:57 am ET (1057 GMT) Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites scheduled for Saturday morning from Vandenberg SFB
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 6:55 am ET (1055 GMT) UK Space Command rises to meet the challenges on the frontier beyond planet Earth
The National (UK) — 6:54 am ET (1054 GMT) Space Systems Command Set to Strengthen Operational Environment with Enhanced Global Weather Sensing
US Space Force — 6:54 am ET (1054 GMT) Col. Brian Chatman Named New Commander of Space Launch Delta 45, Director of the Eastern Range
Space Coast (FL) Daily — 6:53 am ET (1053 GMT) |
