Spectral data gathered by New Horizons shows Hydra to be coated in a much more pure ice material than the larger Charon.
NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
Posted on 05/09/2016 11:57:59 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Discovered in June 2005, Pluto’s outermost moon Hydra is thought to have formed four billion years ago during a massive impact event that created Pluto and Charon.
Despite its age, this 31-mile-wide moon appeared remarkably clean and bright in New Horizons images during the spacecraft’s historic close pass through the Pluto system in July 2015.
Scientists’ initial speculation was proved right when data from the spacecraft was analyzed and revealed that Hydra, like its name [??], is covered in nearly pure water ice.
Measured with the Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array (LEISA) on New Horizons’ Ralph instrument, the spectral signature of water ice on Hydra is even stronger than that seen on Pluto’s much larger satellite Charon, indicating a surface coated with bigger ice particles and less dusty, dark material.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
Honest question: if Pluto is no longer a planet, can objects revolving around it be considered moons?
Maybe they should change the name to Hydro.
So, we should launch some SUVs to take care of the problem?
Well technically they are moonatoids, since Pluto is a planetoid.
Which makes Hillary a hemorrhoid.
We are lucky that Gamelon's Pluto forward base didn't fire on us!
As far as I understand, Pluto is a “dwarf planet”, so objects revolving around it can be called ‘moons’ or maybe a ‘natural satellite’. Since a moon is a celestial body that orbits another celestial body of greater mass (e.g. a planet, star, or dwarf planet), called its primary.For example, the Moon is a natural satellite of Earth, and Earth is a natural satellite of the Sun. And, the Sun is a star, not a planet.
“Discovered in June 2005, Pluto’s outermost moon Hydra is thought to have formed four billion years ago during a massive impact event that created Pluto and Charon.”
The late James Patrick Hogan had this figured out 35 years earlier.
Thanks!
ah! just saw your comment.
“since Pluto is a planetoid.”
Isn’t Planetoid another name/term for an Asteroid? Had no idea Pluto was classified as an asteroid!
silly term water ice....ice is water
I was making a little joke.
(Very little.)
Kinda like a little Humanoid :))
Another Star Blazers fan I see.
Mmmmmmmmm. Water ice . . . . . . . . .
Desslok!
Desslok!
Desslok!
Desslok!
Desslok!
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