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NASA Probe Spies Possible Polar Ice Cap On Pluto
astroengine writes: As NASA's New Horizons spacecraft rapidly approaches Pluto for its historic flyby in July, the dwarf planet is gradually sliding into focus. And in the latest series of observations beamed back from the fringes of the Kuiper belt, surface features are becoming evident including the stunning revelation that Pluto may possess a polar ice cap. "As we approach the Pluto system we are starting to see intriguing features such as a bright region near Pluto's visible pole, starting the great scientific adventure to understand this enigmatic celestial object," said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington D.C. "As we get closer, the excitement is building in our quest to unravel the mysteries of Pluto using data from New Horizons."
Pluto got the shaft. Pluto is round, having reached a hydrostatic equilibrium due to it's own gravity. It orbits the Sun. It's a planet!
Always take your medications prior to posting.
How about this scary thought: Water is really turning out to be the Universal Solvent. It is everywhere we look. That has profound implications for the possibility, no probability, of life throughout the galaxy and beyond.
It also strongly suggests that future planetary missions should be sure to stock some WD-40.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
"a bright region near Pluto's visible pole"
But how do they know its ice? It could be frozen CO2, Nitrogen, methane, or some other gas.
Pluto is pretty damn cold.
If we are thining about terraforming Pluto, I propse we send the IAU there to warm it up with their hot air.
Pluto got the shaft. Pluto is round, having reached a hydrostatic equilibrium due to it's own gravity. It orbits the Sun. It's a planet!
And so are thousands of trans-Neptunian objects.
How are the kids going to learn the name of 2000 (at the very least) damn planets orbiting our sun. Think of the kids !!!!
I would expect the whole surface of the (dwarf) planet to be ice, much like all the other outer system objects too small to be gas giants. It would not necessarily be water ice and TFA did not suggest that it was water. In a region where methane and co2 freeze there are lots of options and water ice would not be favorite for a polar cap.
Actually, the only information so far is: "There is a spot that is brighter than the rest. We don't know why."
Good for them. Make them learn something... Why, back in my day I had to come home from school, split fire wood, then study by candle light. 9 planets or 90. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, don't call it a chicken.
We've long thought that Pluto has an atmosphere at perihelion that freezes when it moves further from the sun. Some common gasses freeze very close to absolute zero. It also does have internal heat from radioactive decay, which may even make liquid water possible deep inside.
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Do they have to know every planet there is? Just teach them the important ones ie the 9 that we've always known. We don't teach kids every animal species there is out there, why should it be important to know the names of all the 2000 planets out there.