NASA’s New Horizons Probe: Discovering Pluto’s Secrets

NASA’s New Horizons Probe: Discovering Pluto’s Secrets

Question: NASA’s New Horizons has discovered a massive mountain range with peaks as high as 11,000 feet above the surface on Pluto. What other discoveries has this probe made?

- NASA’s New Horizons probe has discovered a massive mountain range on Pluto with peaks as high as 11,000 feet above the surface

- Data indicates that Pluto’s surface was formed no more than 100 million years ago

- This indicates Pluto has a relatively young surface in a 4.56 billion year old system

- This close up region which covers one percent of the surface of the planet may also be geologically active at present

- This is one of the youngest surfaces seen in the solar system

- It also provides a stunning view of Pluto’s largest moon Charon

- New Horizons demonstrates the value of basic scientific research

- The probe is heading towards the unknown Kuiper Belt located beyond earth’s solar system

- Unlike icy moons of giant planets, Pluto cannot be heated by gravitational interactions with larger planetary bodies

- Another process is responsible for this mountainous landscape, according to NASA

- Scientists are now rethinking what powers geological activity on icy planets

- The lack of craters on Pluto was also very surprising

- Cliffs and troughs resulting from geological processes which are probably internal dot the surface of this planet

- Pluto also has a canyon projected to be 7 to 9 km in depth

- In the north polar region of Pluto’s moon Charon, dark surface markings have diffuse boundary indicating thin deposit or stain on the surface

Facts and Stats

- New Horizons has also observed smaller members of the Pluto system

- This includes 4 other moons-Nix, Styx, Hydra and Keberos

- Hydra’s investigation reveals its irregular shape and size, assessed to be around 33-43 km

- New observations also suggest the surface of this moon is coated with water ice

- NASA’s New Horizons travelled more than 3 billion miles over 9 years to reach the Pluto system.