Space the beyond

Photo Post
New Hubble Maps of Pluto Show Surface Changes This is the most detailed view to date of the entire surface of the dwarf planet Pluto, as constructed from multiple NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs taken from 2002 to 2003. The center disk (180 degrees) has a mysterious bright spot that is unusually rich in carbon monoxide frost. Pluto is so small and distant that the task of resolving the surface is as challenging as trying to see the markings on a soccer ball 40 miles away. The images, released today, taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope show an icy and dark molasses-colored, mottled world that is undergoing seasonal changes in its surface color and brightness. Pluto has become significantly redder, while its illuminated northern hemisphere is getting brighter. These changes are most likely consequences of surface ices sublimating on the sunlit pole and then refreezing on the other pole as the dwarf planet heads into the next phase of its 248-year-long seasonal cycle. The dramatic change in color apparently took place in a two-year period, from 2000 to 2002. Click image for high resolution. Source » via unknownskywalker:
 Via The Dark Side of the Force Zoom

New Hubble Maps of Pluto Show Surface Changes

This is the most detailed view to date of the entire surface of the dwarf planet Pluto, as constructed from multiple NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs taken from 2002 to 2003. The center disk (180 degrees) has a mysterious bright spot that is unusually rich in carbon monoxide frost. Pluto is so small and distant that the task of resolving the surface is as challenging as trying to see the markings on a soccer ball 40 miles away.

The images, released today, taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope show an icy and dark molasses-colored, mottled world that is undergoing seasonal changes in its surface color and brightness. Pluto has become significantly redder, while its illuminated northern hemisphere is getting brighter.

These changes are most likely consequences of surface ices sublimating on the sunlit pole and then refreezing on the other pole as the dwarf planet heads into the next phase of its 248-year-long seasonal cycle. The dramatic change in color apparently took place in a two-year period, from 2000 to 2002.

Click image for high resolution.

Source » via unknownskywalker:

  1. lethologica reblogged this from findlilyhere
  2. findlilyhere reblogged this from proofmathisbeautiful
  3. sleepyvee reblogged this from proofmathisbeautiful
  4. proofmathisbeautiful reblogged this from fuckyeahmath
  5. weirdandunpredictable reblogged this from fuckyeahmath
  6. fuckyeahmath reblogged this from spacethebeyond and added:
    New Hubble Maps of Pluto Show Surface Changes
  7. spacethebeyond reblogged this from unknownskywalker and added:
    New Hubble Maps of Pluto Show Surface Changes
  8. unknownskywalker posted this