- This picture makes you feel like you were on Pluto – said Alan Stern, a researcher working at the New Horizons mission. – The photo shows a hitherto unknown details of the atmosphere, mountains, glaciers and plains Pluto – he added.
Weather on Pluto
breathtaking view shows the area extending over 1 250 km. In the picture we see part of the “heart” of Pluto, which is surrounded by icebergs. This area, scientists stumbled on 7 July. The camera posted on the New Horizons from a distance of 8 million kilometers performed photograph, which shows different shades areas. Brighter its shape resembles a heart. Scientists estimate that the diameter of the area has a diameter of 2 thousand. km. Region nazwono Tombaugh in honor of the discoverer of Pluto.
Earlier data showed that the atmosphere is rich in nitrogen. For the latest picture shows several layers forming a thin and hazy atmosphere, reaching 100 km. According to the researchers on Pluto – similar to
Earth – can change the weather.
The hydrological cycle on Pluto
Scientists believe that the snow, which is located on Pluto, is in fact nitric ice. Latest photos also provide evidence that Pluto is present hydrological cycle, similar to that on Earth. But instead of water is frozen nitrogen ice. “Heart” Pluto is composed of the plutonium snow. This area is exposed to sunlight. When it gets warmer, nitrogen evaporates. Then, on the surface of Pluto, in the surrounding mountains falls as snow. For “the heart” returns in the form of flowing rivers of nitrogen ice.
– did not expect that we recognize the hydrological cycle on Pluto in the outer solar system – said Alan Howard, a geologist and geophysicist from the University of Virginia.
What is hidden on Pluto?
The picture is only part of what is yet to come. New Horizons will still be for 12 months transmit to Earth data. Who knows what else lies ahead?
Until now considered to be non-dynamic and devoid of activity celestial body very similar to Earth.
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