New Pluto data released
Cool image time! During today’s New Horizons’ press conference, principal investigator Alan Stern noted that only 4%-5% of the data has been recovered. They have finished first phase of download and are moving into second phase, which will be dominated by engineering and other data, not images. So, for the next couple of months they will only be able to release images once and awhile. Beginning in September images, however, they will begin downloading images at a much faster pace.
Some results from today:
They released a high resolution image of encounter hemisphere, 2 km per pixel, a reduced resolution is shown on the right. It shows that the incredibly complex and varied geology revealed in earlier New Horizons’ images is even more complex and varied than indicated.
The data set obtained so far suggests that Charon has practically no atmosphere.
As for Pluto’s atmosphere, they have gotten the first image of it, looking back at Pluto. From this they have found that the pressure of Pluto’s atmosphere at the surface is lower than expected. The atmosphere also has a haze layer, and there is an indication that the planet has weather. The haze is extensive, as much as 100 miles above the surface. This atmosphere appears to be made of ethylene and acetylene. This atmospheric surface pressure data suggests that the atmosphere has finally begun to condense after Pluto’s close approach to the Sun in 1989. Earth data had suggested it had been expanding since 1989, something scientists didn’t understand. The new data point suggest that the Earth data just wasn’t good enough, and that the atmosphere has been condensing as expected.
They think the dark equatorial areas are created by material rained down from the northern latitudes in a seasonal process. Tombaugh Regio however is a specific region that seems to be spewing out its own material and disturbing this latitude-determined weather pattern.
Higher resolution images of the nitrogen ice of the Regio near its rugged edges strongly suggest that it is flowing just like ice glaciers on Earth. The scientists explained that nitrogen, even at almost -400 degrees Fahrenheit, is soft and can flow. As Stern added, the interaction between geology and weather appears to be much greater on Pluto than on any other object seen in our solar system.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Cool image time! During today’s New Horizons’ press conference, principal investigator Alan Stern noted that only 4%-5% of the data has been recovered. They have finished first phase of download and are moving into second phase, which will be dominated by engineering and other data, not images. So, for the next couple of months they will only be able to release images once and awhile. Beginning in September images, however, they will begin downloading images at a much faster pace.
Some results from today:
They released a high resolution image of encounter hemisphere, 2 km per pixel, a reduced resolution is shown on the right. It shows that the incredibly complex and varied geology revealed in earlier New Horizons’ images is even more complex and varied than indicated.
The data set obtained so far suggests that Charon has practically no atmosphere.
As for Pluto’s atmosphere, they have gotten the first image of it, looking back at Pluto. From this they have found that the pressure of Pluto’s atmosphere at the surface is lower than expected. The atmosphere also has a haze layer, and there is an indication that the planet has weather. The haze is extensive, as much as 100 miles above the surface. This atmosphere appears to be made of ethylene and acetylene. This atmospheric surface pressure data suggests that the atmosphere has finally begun to condense after Pluto’s close approach to the Sun in 1989. Earth data had suggested it had been expanding since 1989, something scientists didn’t understand. The new data point suggest that the Earth data just wasn’t good enough, and that the atmosphere has been condensing as expected.
They think the dark equatorial areas are created by material rained down from the northern latitudes in a seasonal process. Tombaugh Regio however is a specific region that seems to be spewing out its own material and disturbing this latitude-determined weather pattern.
Higher resolution images of the nitrogen ice of the Regio near its rugged edges strongly suggest that it is flowing just like ice glaciers on Earth. The scientists explained that nitrogen, even at almost -400 degrees Fahrenheit, is soft and can flow. As Stern added, the interaction between geology and weather appears to be much greater on Pluto than on any other object seen in our solar system.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Readers: the rules for commenting!
No registration is required. I welcome all opinions, even those that strongly criticize my commentary.
However, name-calling and obscenities will not be tolerated. First time offenders who are new to the site will be warned. Second time offenders or first time offenders who have been here awhile will be suspended for a week. After that, I will ban you. Period.
Note also that first time commenters as well as any comment with more than one link will be placed in moderation for my approval. Be patient, I will get to it.