Updates NASA New Horizons Mission Updates

[RGClark]

Active geologically. Perhaps sufficient heat for liquid water subsurface?

Bob Clark

 

[steph]

So... how much of this lack of craters could be atributed to it being waaay out there in the outer Solar System, where there should be less objects wandering around? Or does the Kuiper Belt make it worse?
Edit: Maybe the fact that it's orbiting a bit outside the normal orbital plane might have contributed as well?

 

[N_Molson]

Now lets send a rover there... Easy ! :lol:

 

[Urwumpe]

Now lets send a rover there... Easy ! :lol:

Sounds like a challenge. May I use a SLS for that? :lol:

 

[Astro SG Wise]

Sure, go right ahead.

 

[Andy44]

So has anyone noticed any "faces" yet? Part of the fun (and frustration) of missions like this is the cranks and conspiracy theories that always emerge. And with surface detail this good, we can expect a few. Hope there are some creative ones this time!

 

[steph]

Well...the heart. Though it's not a face

 

[statickid]

So has anyone noticed any "faces" yet? Part of the fun (and frustration) of missions like this is the cranks and conspiracy theories that always emerge. And with surface detail this good, we can expect a few. Hope there are some creative ones this time!

Don't be blind! The image CLEARLY shows an alien base with space port and several grand pyramids! If anyone argues they are obviously either brainwashed from seeing the truth or have been paid to cover it up!!!!!!!!! :hide:

 

[steph]

Don't be blind! The image CLEARLY shows an alien base with space port and several grand pyramids! If anyone argues they are obviously either brainwashed from seeing the truth or have been paid to cover it up!!!!!!!!! :hide:

And the lack of craters probably means they have orbital defense capabilities.

 

[statickid]

https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/hydra-emerges-from-the-shadows

Here's an early picture of the military base located on Hydra and a short article talking about the image. :tiphat:

 

[Linguofreak]

Thats really extremely unexpected and extremely cool. I would have expected a heavily cratered planet, possibly with signs of large collisions in the past... but thats not even looking like impacts on soft ice.

I wouldn't say extremely unexpected: I didn't actively anticipate it, but it doesn't surprise me. That tidal warming between the two would be enough to keep them active is not far fetched.

 

[Quick_Nick]

I wouldn't say extremely unexpected: I didn't actively anticipate it, but it doesn't surprise me. That tidal warming between the two would be enough to keep them active is not far fetched.

The most repeated thing in the conference was the fact that tidal forces are definitely not a factor in anything observed so far. That seems to be almost the only certainty established.

 

[Unstung]

Montains made of water ice...?
Maybe there is truely an ocean under the surface ... who knows...

Ice mountains? That's crazy. I was definitely wrong about that.

The most repeated thing in the conference was the fact that tidal forces are definitely not a factor in anything observed so far. That seems to be almost the only certainty established.

I haven't seen the conference yet, but it's known that Pluto and Charon's orbits are completely circular around each other.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

The most repeated thing in the conference was the fact that tidal forces are definitely not a factor in anything observed so far. That seems to be almost the only certainty established.

What about Nix, Styx and Hydra? If it were just Pluto and Charon orbiting their barycenter, I could believe that tidal forces would be negligible. But wouldn't the other moons exert small tidal forces?

 

[jedidia]

Here's an early picture of the military base located on Hydra and a short article talking about the image.

Hail Hydra! :lol:

 

[Hielor]

Has there been any discussion of concerns about why Pluto is collecting so many moons? Any speculation at all as to what its long-term plans are? Are they friendly?

 

[orb]

That's just a friendly competition with gas giants. The long term plan is have more moons than any planet and/or to become a ringed system. :lol:

 

[K_Jameson]

Sounds like a challenge

Yeah. I can add this at my (already long) list of unmanned spacecrafts under (infinite) development :lol:

Anyway... when the new hi-res maps on Orbithangar? ;-)

 

[RGClark]

I admit that I didn't have much interest in the New Horizons mission when it first launched 9 years ago because my primary interest in planetary missions is in regards to astrobiology.
Who would have thought that with active geology raising the possibilty of sufficient heat for liquid water and organics present such as methane, that Pluto also could harbor life subsurface?
Subsurface liquid water may turn out to be ubiquitous through out the Solar System.

Bob Clark

 

[K_Jameson]

Subsurface liquid water may turn out to be ubiquitous through out the Solar System.

This is indubitably an emerging fact.