50 Miles on Pluto
Explanation:
A 50 mile (80 kilometer)
trip across Pluto
would cover the distance indicated by the scale bar
in this startling image.
The
close-up of the icy world's
rugged equatorial terrain
was captured when the
New Horizons spacecraft was about
47,800 miles (77,000 kilometers) from the surface, 1.5 hours before
its closest approach.
Rising to an estimated 11,000 feet (3,500 meters)
the mountains are likely composed of water ice.
Suggesting surprising geological activity,
they are also likely young
with an estimated age of 100 million years or so based on
the apparent absence of craters.
The region pictured is
near the base of Pluto's broad, bright, heart-shaped feature.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
