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| Pluto pictures: Nasa reveals first high-resolution images of surface | Pluto pictures: Nasa reveals first high-resolution images of surface |
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| For 85 years, it was little more than a featureless grey blob on classroom maps of the solar system. But now Pluto has been revealed in high resolution glory for the first time, revealing dramatic mountain ranges made from solid water ice on a scale to rival the Alps or the Rockies. | For 85 years, it was little more than a featureless grey blob on classroom maps of the solar system. But now Pluto has been revealed in high resolution glory for the first time, revealing dramatic mountain ranges made from solid water ice on a scale to rival the Alps or the Rockies. |
| The extraordinary images of the former ninth planet and its large moon, Charon, beamed 4bn miles back to Earth from the New Horizons spacecraft, marks the climax of a mission that has been quietly under way for nearly a decade. | The extraordinary images of the former ninth planet and its large moon, Charon, beamed 4bn miles back to Earth from the New Horizons spacecraft, marks the climax of a mission that has been quietly under way for nearly a decade. |
| Alan Stern, the mission principal investigator, described the images as a “home run” for the team. “New Horizons is returning amazing results already. The data look absolutely gorgeous and Pluto and Charon are just mind blowing.” | Alan Stern, the mission principal investigator, described the images as a “home run” for the team. “New Horizons is returning amazing results already. The data look absolutely gorgeous and Pluto and Charon are just mind blowing.” |
| Adding that one of the biggest surprises was the discovery that “there are mountains in the Kuiper belt”, the solar system’s mysterious “third zone” where Pluto sits amid 100,000 smaller icy objects. | Adding that one of the biggest surprises was the discovery that “there are mountains in the Kuiper belt”, the solar system’s mysterious “third zone” where Pluto sits amid 100,000 smaller icy objects. |
| Related: Pluto and its moons: detailed new images released - in pictures | Related: Pluto and its moons: detailed new images released - in pictures |
| John Spencer, a mission scientist, said the mountains appeared to be about 11,000 ft high and several hundred miles across. “These are pretty significant mountains. They’d stand up respectably against mountain ranges on Earth like the Rockies.” | |
| The detailed image that fills in one edge of the dwarf planet revealed not a single crater, hinting that the surface has been recently been “paved over” by geological activity, which could include dramatic geysers blasting plumes of ice into the atmosphere or cryo-volcanoes that erupt in explosions of ice rather than molten rock. | The detailed image that fills in one edge of the dwarf planet revealed not a single crater, hinting that the surface has been recently been “paved over” by geological activity, which could include dramatic geysers blasting plumes of ice into the atmosphere or cryo-volcanoes that erupt in explosions of ice rather than molten rock. |
| In a nod to Pluto’s former status as the ninth planet, until it was downgraded to dwarf planet in 2006, the Nasa press conference began with a rundown of spectacular images of the sun and the eight official planets. | In a nod to Pluto’s former status as the ninth planet, until it was downgraded to dwarf planet in 2006, the Nasa press conference began with a rundown of spectacular images of the sun and the eight official planets. |
| “We’ve brought what was previously a blurred point of light into focus,” said Nasa spokesman Dwayne Brown, as scientists and journalists waited for the image to be unveiled. | “We’ve brought what was previously a blurred point of light into focus,” said Nasa spokesman Dwayne Brown, as scientists and journalists waited for the image to be unveiled. |
| Stern described the images as “frankly just skimming the surface” of what would be learnt about the planet during the coming year. They have already produced some surprises, though. | Stern described the images as “frankly just skimming the surface” of what would be learnt about the planet during the coming year. They have already produced some surprises, though. |
| The mountains on Pluto are likely to have formed no more than 100m years ago – extremely recently given the 4.56 bn-year-old solar system. This suggests the close-up region, which covers about 1% of Pluto’s surface, may still be geologically active. | The mountains on Pluto are likely to have formed no more than 100m years ago – extremely recently given the 4.56 bn-year-old solar system. This suggests the close-up region, which covers about 1% of Pluto’s surface, may still be geologically active. |
| Scientists believe the mountains are made from water ice with just a thin veneer of “exotic” ices, methane and nitrogen. | Scientists believe the mountains are made from water ice with just a thin veneer of “exotic” ices, methane and nitrogen. |
| “You can’t make mountains out of methane and nitrogen,” said Spencer. “Water ice is strong enough to hold up big mountains and that’s what we think we’re seeing here. This is the first time we’ve seen this. The methane and nitrogen are just a coating.” | “You can’t make mountains out of methane and nitrogen,” said Spencer. “Water ice is strong enough to hold up big mountains and that’s what we think we’re seeing here. This is the first time we’ve seen this. The methane and nitrogen are just a coating.” |
| For scale, the images are so detailed that if the craft were flying over London, one would be able to pick out Hyde Park’s Serpentine pond or the runways at Heathrow. | For scale, the images are so detailed that if the craft were flying over London, one would be able to pick out Hyde Park’s Serpentine pond or the runways at Heathrow. |
| The smoothness of Pluto’s surface suggests that recent geological activity has somehow smoothed over depressions caused by asteroid impacts. This “paving” process could be the result of internal heat that softens rock and ice or from snowfalls that blanket the surface. | The smoothness of Pluto’s surface suggests that recent geological activity has somehow smoothed over depressions caused by asteroid impacts. This “paving” process could be the result of internal heat that softens rock and ice or from snowfalls that blanket the surface. |
| The new view of Charon reveals a varied complex terrain. A swath of cliffs and troughs stretching about 600 miles (1,000 km) suggests widespread fracturing of Charon’s crust, which could also be the result of geological activity. The image also shows a canyon estimated to be 4-6 miles (7-9) deep. In Charon’s north polar region, the dark surface markings have a diffuse boundary, suggesting a thin deposit or stain on the surface. | The new view of Charon reveals a varied complex terrain. A swath of cliffs and troughs stretching about 600 miles (1,000 km) suggests widespread fracturing of Charon’s crust, which could also be the result of geological activity. The image also shows a canyon estimated to be 4-6 miles (7-9) deep. In Charon’s north polar region, the dark surface markings have a diffuse boundary, suggesting a thin deposit or stain on the surface. |
| New Horizons observed the smaller members of the Pluto system, which includes four other moons: Nix, Hydra, Styx and Kerberos. A new sneak-peek image of Hydra is the first to reveal its apparent irregular shape and its size, estimated to be about 27 by 20 miles (43 by 33km). | New Horizons observed the smaller members of the Pluto system, which includes four other moons: Nix, Hydra, Styx and Kerberos. A new sneak-peek image of Hydra is the first to reveal its apparent irregular shape and its size, estimated to be about 27 by 20 miles (43 by 33km). |
| “Pluto New Horizons is a true mission of exploration showing us why basic scientific research is so important,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for Nasa’s science mission directorate. “The mission has had nine years to build expectations about what we would see during closest approach to Pluto and Charon. Today, we get the first sampling of the scientific treasure collected during those critical moments, and I can tell you it dramatically surpasses those high expectations.” | “Pluto New Horizons is a true mission of exploration showing us why basic scientific research is so important,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for Nasa’s science mission directorate. “The mission has had nine years to build expectations about what we would see during closest approach to Pluto and Charon. Today, we get the first sampling of the scientific treasure collected during those critical moments, and I can tell you it dramatically surpasses those high expectations.” |
| The observations indicate Hydra’s surface is probably coated with water ice. Future images will reveal more clues about the formation of this and the other moon billions of years ago. Spectroscopic data from New Horizons’ Ralph instruments reveal an abundance of methane ice, but with striking differences among regions across the frozen surface of Pluto. | The observations indicate Hydra’s surface is probably coated with water ice. Future images will reveal more clues about the formation of this and the other moon billions of years ago. Spectroscopic data from New Horizons’ Ralph instruments reveal an abundance of methane ice, but with striking differences among regions across the frozen surface of Pluto. |
| Related: Pluto New Horizons mission: what happens next? | |
| Pluto is thought to be composed of about two thirds rock encased in a lot of ice, with surface temperatures of about minus 230C. Despite its bitterly cold surface temperatures, scientists believe that there could be a liquid ocean beneath the ice, which could send up plumes of nitrogen – although the images have not yet confirmed such activity. | Pluto is thought to be composed of about two thirds rock encased in a lot of ice, with surface temperatures of about minus 230C. Despite its bitterly cold surface temperatures, scientists believe that there could be a liquid ocean beneath the ice, which could send up plumes of nitrogen – although the images have not yet confirmed such activity. |
| Scientists hope that the objects in the Kuiper belt, including Pluto, will offer a window back in time, potentially helping to explain the Earth’s own origins. | Scientists hope that the objects in the Kuiper belt, including Pluto, will offer a window back in time, potentially helping to explain the Earth’s own origins. |
| Andrew Coates, the head of planetary science at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, said: “These Kuiper belt objects are the building blocks of the outer solar system. They’re all very cold – it’s like a cosmic deep freeze. It’s the best way of preserving solar system history. That is what is so fascinating about this. It’s a really thrilling time for solar system exploration.” | Andrew Coates, the head of planetary science at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, said: “These Kuiper belt objects are the building blocks of the outer solar system. They’re all very cold – it’s like a cosmic deep freeze. It’s the best way of preserving solar system history. That is what is so fascinating about this. It’s a really thrilling time for solar system exploration.” |
| Next month, mission scientists will choose which of two objects to visit next. Nasa estimates that the spacecraft will be able to keep recording and transmitting until the mid-2030s. Then its plutonium power source will run out and it will shut down, drifting out towards the edge of the solar system and deep space beyond. | Next month, mission scientists will choose which of two objects to visit next. Nasa estimates that the spacecraft will be able to keep recording and transmitting until the mid-2030s. Then its plutonium power source will run out and it will shut down, drifting out towards the edge of the solar system and deep space beyond. |