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The Pluto system: Initial results from its...
Journal article

The Pluto system: Initial results from its exploration by New Horizons

Abstract

The Pluto system was recently explored by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, making closest approach on 14 July 2015. Pluto's surface displays diverse landforms, terrain ages, albedos, colors, and composition gradients. Evidence is found for a water-ice crust, geologically young surface units, surface ice convection, wind streaks, volatile transport, and glacial flow. Pluto's atmosphere is highly extended, with trace hydrocarbons, a global haze layer, and a surface pressure near 10 microbars. Pluto's diverse surface geology and long-term activity raise fundamental questions about how small planets remain active many billions of years after formation. Pluto's large moon Charon displays tectonics and evidence for a heterogeneous crustal composition; its north pole displays puzzling dark terrain. Small satellites Hydra and Nix have higher albedos than expected.

Authors

Stern SA; Bagenal F; Ennico K; Gladstone GR; Grundy WM; McKinnon WB; Moore JM; Olkin CB; Spencer JR; Weaver HA

Journal

Science, Vol. 350, No. 6258,

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Publication Date

October 16, 2015

DOI

10.1126/science.aad1815

ISSN

0036-8075

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