NASA’s New Horizons Team Discusses New Science Findings on Pluto

TL;DR

The ices on Pluto, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and methane, are geologically soft and malleable, unlike the immobile nature of other substances on the planet.

Transcript

AND WON'T MOVE ANYWHERE, IT'S IMMOBILE. ON PLUTO, THE KIND OF ICES WE THINK MAKE UP THE PLANUM, WHICH KATHY TALKED ABOUT, CARBON MONOXIDE ICE, NITROGEN ICE, METHANE ICE, THESE ICES ARE GEOLOGICALLY SOFT AND MALLEABLE EVEN AT PLUTO CONDITION, AND THEY WILL FLOW LIKE IN THE SAME WAY THAT GLACIERS DO ON THE EARTH. Read More

Key Insights

• 🍦 The ices on Pluto, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and methane, are geologically soft and malleable.
• 🍦 These soft ices can flow and move similarly to glaciers on Earth.
• 🥶 The immobile nature of other substances on Pluto contrasts with the geological softness of these ices.
• 🥶 The softness of these ices contributes to the formation of unique surface features on Pluto.
• 🍦 The composition and structure of these ices allow them to remain soft and malleable even under extreme conditions.
• 🥶 Understanding the behavior and properties of these ices provides insights into the geological processes on Pluto.
• 🥶 The flowing nature of these ices indicates ongoing geologic activity on Pluto.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the primary types of ices on Pluto?

The primary types of ices on Pluto are carbon monoxide ice, nitrogen ice, and methane ice.

Q: How do these ices behave under Pluto's conditions?

Unlike other substances on Pluto, these ices are geologically soft and malleable, allowing them to flow similar to glaciers on Earth.

Q: Why are these ices considered soft and malleable?

These ices have a different composition and structure, allowing them to exhibit soft and malleable properties even under the conditions of extreme coldness on Pluto.

Q: What is the significance of the geological softness of these ices?

The geological softness of these ices plays a role in shaping the surface features and landscape of Pluto, as they can flow and move over time.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ices on Pluto, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and methane, are soft and malleable even under Pluto's conditions.

• These ices flow similar to glaciers on Earth.

• Other substances on Pluto are immobile and lack the geological softness of these ices.