New Horizons has transferred the most detailed photos of Pluto for all time

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The New Horizons spacecraft continues to transmit the photos accumulated during the trip to Earth. Now the transfer of the clearest photos begins, with a maximum resolution of about 77-85 meters per pixel. So, Earth scientists have already received images of the center of Pluto's “heart”. In these images, an area with an x-shaped pattern is very clearly visible.

After studying the images, astronomers have already managed to draw some conclusions about the structure of the planet’s surface in this place. As you know, the "heart" of Pluto consists mainly of nitrogen ice. This is an uneven surface with a large number of sections with a width of 15-40 kilometers. The edges of such areas are slightly omitted, when compared with the central areas - 30 meters or less.

Some scientists believe that these irregularities are due to the lowering of chilled nitrogen ice into the depths. The process of changing cell surfaces is constant, its duration is millions of years. During this time, some surfaces appear, merge with others, some of the other cells go deep. Perhaps, scientists say, a cruciform pattern was formed as a result of the merger of four surfaces at once.



The picture came to EarthDecember 24, after about 5 months from the flight of the New Horizons spacecraft at a distance of 12.5 thousand kilometers from Pluto. Information will be transmitted continuously until August 2016 or longer. This duration is due to the large amount of accumulated information and the low bandwidth of the New Horizons - Earth communication channels.

Currently, the spacecraft continues to move towards the Kuiper belt. More precisely, then to the object 2014 MU69. New Horizons should approach this object by January 1, 2019.