This map of Pluto, made from
images taken by the LORRI instrument aboard New Horizons, shows a wide
array of bright and dark markings of varying sizes and shapes. Perhaps
most intriguing is the fact that all of the darkest material on the
surface lies along Pluto’s equator. The color version was created from
lower-resolution color data from the spacecraft’s Ralph instrument.
Credit: NASA-JHUAPL-SWRI
This is the latest map of Pluto created
from images taken from June 27 to July 3 by the Long Range
Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) on New Horizons, combined with
lower-resolution color data from the spacecraft's Ralph instrument. The
center of the map corresponds to the side of Pluto that will be seen
close-up during New Horizons' July 14 flyby.
This map gives mission scientists an important tool to decipher the
complex and intriguing pattern of bright and dark markings on Pluto's
surface. Features from all sides of Pluto can now be seen at a glance
and from a consistent perspective, making it much easier to compare
their shapes and sizes.
The elongated dark area informally known as "the whale," along the
equator on the left side of the map, is one of the darkest regions
visible to New Horizons. It measures some 1,860 miles (3,000 kilometers)
in length.
Directly to the right of the whale's "head" is the brightest region
visible on the planet, which is roughly 990 miles (1,600 kilometers)
across. This may be a region where relatively fresh deposits of frost --
perhaps including frozen methane, nitrogen and/or carbon monoxide --
form a bright coating.
Continuing to the right, along the equator, we see the four
mysterious dark spots that have so intrigued the world, each of which is
hundreds of miles across. Meanwhile, the whale's "tail," at the left
end of the dark feature, cradles a bright donut-shaped feature about 200
miles (350 kilometers) across. At first glance it resembles circular
features seen elsewhere in the solar system, from impact craters to
volcanoes. But scientists are holding off on making any interpretation
of this and other features on Pluto until more detailed images are in
hand.
Of course, higher-resolution images in the days to come will allow
mission scientists to make more accurate maps, but this map is a
tantalizing preview.
"We're at the 'man in the moon' stage of viewing Pluto," said John
Spencer of the Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado, deputy
leader of the Geology, Geophysics and Imaging team. "It's easy to
imagine you're seeing familiar shapes in this bizarre collection of
light and dark features. However, it's too early to know what these
features really are."
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from
materials provided by
NASA.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Ditulis Oleh : Unknown
Terimakasih atas kunjungan Kamu Karena telah Mau membaca artikel
New Horizons map of Pluto: The whale and the donut. Tapi Kurang Lengkap Rasanya Jika Kunjunganmu di Blog ini Tanpa Meninggalkan Komentar, untuk Itu Silahkan Berikan Kritik dan saran Pada Kotak Komentar di bawah. Kamu boleh menyebarluaskan atau mengcopy artikel
New Horizons map of Pluto: The whale and the donut ini jika memang bermanfaat bagi kamu, tapi jangan lupa untuk mencantumkan link sumbernya. Pengunjung yang baik akan memberikan komentarnya di sini :p. Terima Kasih :)
