The spacecraft New Horizons «reviewed» to the dwarf planet Pluto is a bright spot, which is believed by scientists from NASA, could indicate the presence of her snow-covered from molecular nitrogen polar pole.
«As we approach to Pluto, we begin to notice the intriguing details, including light in the visible region of the pole we dwarf planet, we begin a great journey into the scientific understanding of this mysterious celestial body,” – said NASA spokesman John Gransfild, RIA ” News ».
Pictures taken mounted on the probe camera LORRI (Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager) from 12 to 19 April, more visible light than the rest of the surface, area near the pole of Pluto. The equipment of the probe from a distance of about a hundred million kilometers recorded a full rotation around the axis of Pluto, which he performs in 6.4 Earth days. In addition to the images of Pluto got its largest moon Charon.
Scientists suggest that they had seen a cap of Pluto can be explained by the fact that the dwarf planet pole snow covers the kind of zamershego molecular nitrogen.
In NASA noted that to confirm or refute this hypothesis will be possible in July when New Horizons to Pluto closer to a close distance. The unit will take place at a distance of 12.5 thousand. Km of plutonium in 5 billion kilometers from Earth on July 14. As we approach LORRI will continue to shoot the dwarf, the beginning of the next photo session is scheduled for May 8.
At the same time, NASA scientists now obvious that the New Horizons because they can better understand the structure of Pluto’s surface.
«These extraordinary images are the first in which we can see the nuances of the surface of Pluto, and we can already see that it is highly complex,” – said mission principal investigator Alan Stern, New Horizons.
Let’s remind, New Horizons was It launched in January 2006. In January this year, the machine began its journey to Pluto.
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