NASA Image Shows Surface Of Pluto 'Acting Like A Lava Lamp'
- 8 years ago
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has just returned an image of the dwarf planet that shows odd, lava-lamp-like activity on the surface of the Sputnik Planum.
NASA's New Horizons mission has just returned an image of unusual activity on the surface of Pluto—including what’s believed to be a dirty block of ice water “floating” on top of much denser nitrogen ice.
In a mosaic of high-resolution views of the Sputnik Planum—a nitrogen-ice-covered expanse that forms the dwarf planet’s geographic “heart”—are several polygon-like cells with raised centers and ridges.
According to NASA, "Mission scientists believe…the solid nitrogen is warmed at depth by Pluto’s modest internal heat, becomes buoyant and rises up in great blobs, and then cools off and sinks again to renew the cycle."
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NASA's New Horizons mission has just returned an image of unusual activity on the surface of Pluto—including what’s believed to be a dirty block of ice water “floating” on top of much denser nitrogen ice.
In a mosaic of high-resolution views of the Sputnik Planum—a nitrogen-ice-covered expanse that forms the dwarf planet’s geographic “heart”—are several polygon-like cells with raised centers and ridges.
According to NASA, "Mission scientists believe…the solid nitrogen is warmed at depth by Pluto’s modest internal heat, becomes buoyant and rises up in great blobs, and then cools off and sinks again to renew the cycle."
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