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New Horizons Probe

All articles tagged with #new horizons probe

astronomy1 year ago•3 min saved

Pluto's Heart: Unveiling the Violent Cosmic Origins

Researchers have proposed a scenario for the formation of Pluto's iconic "heart" feature, Tombaugh Regio, suggesting that it was created by a primordial collision with a planetary body over 400 miles wide. This collision, termed a "splat," resulted in the formation of Sputnik Planitia, a teardrop-shaped region filled with nitrogen ice. The study challenges previous theories about Pluto's geological evolution and the existence of a deep subsurface ocean, offering new insights into the dwarf planet's history. The findings could also have implications for understanding other objects in the Kuiper Belt.

via ScienceAlert|

#astronomy #cosmic-collision #kuiper-belt

astronomy1 year ago•0 min saved

"American History Condensed into One Plutonian Year"

NASA's New Horizons probe revealed that the entire history of the United States has occurred within one orbit of Pluto around the Sun, which takes approximately 247.94 Earth years. This Plutonian year, starting on July 4, 1776, is set to end on June 12, 2024, marking a fascinating perspective on the vast timescales of the solar system.

via kottke.org|

#astronomy #new-horizons-probe #orbital-timeline

astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

"Surprising Discoveries: Solar System's Vast Reach Beyond Expectations"

A new method using machine learning to scan telescope images has revealed evidence that our Solar System's disc of material extends further into interstellar space than previously thought. The study, led by Canada's Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre, identified twice as many Kuiper Belt Objects using the machine learning technique compared to a human search. The findings suggest a rise in the density of material at a distance of around 60 to 80 AU along the trajectory of the New Horizons Probe. The results could help explain an anomalous glow detected by the probe and the Hubble Space Telescope. Further research and confirmation are needed to understand the nature of this extended region and the gap at around 50 AU.

via ScienceAlert|

#astronomy #interstellar-space #kuiper-belt