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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Unusual Pits Discovered on Pluto
NASA ^
| November 25, 2015
| (see photo credit)
Posted on 11/26/2015 9:18:56 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Why are there unusual pits on Pluto? The indentations were discovered during the New Horizons spacecraft's flyby of the dwarf planet in July. The largest pits span a kilometer across and dip tens of meters into a lake of frozen nitrogen, a lake that sprawls across Sputnik Planum, part of the famous light-colored heart-shaped region named Tombaugh Regio. Although most pits in the Solar System are created by impact craters, these depressions look different -- many are similarly sized, densely packed, and aligned. Rather, it is thought that something has caused these specific areas of ice to sublimate and evaporate away. In fact, the lack of overlying impact craters indicates these pits formed relatively recently. Even though the robotic New Horizons is now off to a new destination, it continues to beam back to Earth new images and data from its dramatic encounter with Pluto.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; goosebumps; newhorizons; pluto; science
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To: SunkenCiv
Too many Bride-Zillas and “Real” Housewives of Transgendered Proctologists shows. No experience required.
To: lee martell
22
posted on
11/26/2015 11:38:54 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
To: SunkenCiv
Those aren't pits...
23
posted on
11/26/2015 11:48:03 PM PST
by
Talisker
(One who commands, must obey.)
To: Talisker
24
posted on
11/26/2015 11:51:43 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
To: Carthego delenda est
They heard the EU is open to refugees. But Obama is sending Kerry to offer asylum here.
25
posted on
11/27/2015 2:25:45 AM PST
by
sphinx
To: SunkenCiv
Looks like that “HOLES” movie.
26
posted on
11/27/2015 3:05:46 AM PST
by
BRK
To: SunkenCiv
Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Unusual Pits Discovered on PlutoUnion road workers on Pluto?
27
posted on
11/27/2015 4:17:51 AM PST
by
Caipirabob
(Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
To: Talisker; SunkenCiv
Many seem to be assuming that these formed from the top down, by an impact of some sort.
When I look at the photo I'm am reminded more of the residue of a froth, as if the surface had been liquid (molten) and has had the equivalent of a carbonated effervescence that bubbled off leaving a pitted surface.
I think I've seen similar patterns in a milk shake or perhaps cake or pancake batter.
28
posted on
11/27/2015 4:59:11 AM PST
by
shibumi
(Vampire Outlaw of the Milky Way)
To: SunkenCiv
To: SunkenCiv
I'm still an idiot.
30
posted on
11/27/2015 5:07:28 AM PST
by
bmwcyle
(People who do not study history are destine to believe really ignorant statements.)
To: SunkenCiv
Better to find pits than Pitts. There’s one too many of the latter already.
31
posted on
11/27/2015 5:33:51 AM PST
by
IronJack
To: SunkenCiv
Pluto is a alien spacecraft. Those are retro rockets.
To: shibumi
Excellent theory. Really good.
33
posted on
11/27/2015 11:39:41 AM PST
by
Talisker
(One who commands, must obey.)
To: shibumi
Good suggestion, plus, a tasty treat for the first visitors.
34
posted on
11/27/2015 3:03:12 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
To: shibumi
Looks more that way to me as well, per my botfly hatch theory. I think yours is a bit more plausible though.
To: SunkenCiv
36
posted on
11/30/2015 6:25:49 AM PST
by
Red Badger
(READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
To: SunkenCiv
37
posted on
11/30/2015 12:33:37 PM PST
by
fishtank
(The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
To: fishtank
Which one is Paul Newman? ;’)
38
posted on
11/30/2015 1:39:14 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
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