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New Horizons Spacecraft

All articles tagged with #new horizons spacecraft

science1 year ago•5 min saved

"The Cataclysmic Event Behind Pluto's Heart"

Researchers believe that a cataclysmic collision with a planetary body early in Pluto's history created the distinctive heart-shaped feature on its surface, known as Tombaugh Regio. The impact formed a deep basin called Sputnik Planitia, which is home to much of Pluto's nitrogen ice. The collision likely involved a planetary body about 435 miles in diameter and resulted in a teardrop shape due to the frigidity of Pluto's core and the impact's relatively low velocity. This new theory sheds light on how Pluto formed and could provide insights into its mysterious origins on the edge of the solar system.

via CNN|

#dwarf-planet #new-horizons-spacecraft #planetary-collision

space-exploration1 year ago•2 min saved

"Revising Our Solar System Map: The Expanding Kuiper Belt"

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has discovered that the Kuiper Belt, located around Pluto, may extend billions of miles further than previously thought, potentially even revealing the existence of a second belt. This finding underscores the vastness of space and the limited understanding we have of it. New Horizons continues to take measurements of interplanetary dust beyond Neptune and Pluto, offering the possibility of new discoveries with each observation. As the spacecraft continues its extended mission, it is expected to provide further insights into the origins of our solar system by studying the primordial rock left behind during its formation.

via BGR|

#kuiper-belt #nasa #new-horizons-spacecraft

astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

Unveiling a Hidden Asteroid Belt: Dozens of Objects Discovered Beyond Pluto

Researchers may have discovered a dozen new, large objects beyond the Kuiper Belt, suggesting the existence of a "second Kuiper Belt" further out in the solar system. These potential findings indicate that the solar system is much more massive than previously thought, aligning with what astronomers know about other star systems. The objects were detected around 60 AU from the sun using artificial intelligence to analyze data from the Subaru Telescope. The findings could also support data collected by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which has encountered dust particles suggesting the presence of more undetected objects. However, some astronomers remain skeptical until further confirmation is obtained.

via Livescience.com|

#astronomy #kuiper-belt #new-horizons-spacecraft

space-exploration2 years ago•3 min saved

"Join NASA in Exploring Uranus from a Unique Perspective"

NASA is inviting amateur astronomers with large backyard telescopes to collaborate in studying Uranus and Neptune. While most of the work will be done by the Hubble Space Telescope and the New Horizons spacecraft, NASA believes that every little bit helps. It has been decades since a mission visited Uranus and Neptune, and until a spacecraft can reach them, astronomers are relying on data from Voyager 2 and remote observations. By combining data from multiple instruments, including those from amateur telescopes, astronomers hope to learn more about the atmospheres of these ice giants.

via IFLScience|

#hubble-space-telescope #nasa #neptune

space2 years ago•1 min saved

"New Horizons Discovers Heart-Shaped Glacier on Pluto"

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft captured a stunning image of a heart-shaped glacier on Pluto's surface, known as Tombaugh Regio, made of nitrogen and methane. The spacecraft reached Pluto in 2015, becoming the first probe to fly by Pluto and its moons. Pluto was once considered the ninth planet in the solar system but was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. Its surface is coated in ice made of water, methane, and nitrogen and is believed to have a rocky core and possibly a deep ocean.

via NDTV|

#heart-shaped-glacier #nasa #new-horizons-spacecraft