The pluto system: Initial results from its exploration by New Horizons

S. A. Stern, F. Bagenal, K. Ennico, G. R. Gladstone, W. M. Grundy, W. B. McKinnon, J. M. Moore, C. B. Olkin, J. R. Spencer, H. A. Weaver, L. A. Young, T. Andert, J. Andrews, M. Banks, B. Bauer, J. Bauman, O. S. Barnouin, P. Bedini, K. Beisser, R. A. BeyerS. Bhaskaran, R. P. Binzel, E. Birath, M. Bird, D. J. Bogan, A. Bowman, V. J. Bray, M. Brozovic, C. Bryan, M. R. Buckley, M. W. Buie, B. J. Buratti, S. S. Bushman, A. Calloway, B. Carcich, A. F. Cheng, S. Conard, C. A. Conrad, J. C. Cook, D. P. Cruikshank, O. S. Custodio, C. M. Dalle Ore, C. Deboy, Z. J.B. Dischner, P. Dumont, A. M. Earle, H. A. Elliott, J. Ercol, C. M. Ernst, T. Finley, S. H. Flanigan, G. Fountain, M. J. Freeze, T. Greathouse, J. L. Green, Y. Guo, M. Hahn, D. P. Hamilton, S. A. Hamilton, J. Hanley, A. Harch, H. M. Hart, C. B. Hersman, A. Hill, M. E. Hill, D. P. Hinson, M. E. Holdridge, M. Horanyi, A. D. Howard, C. J.A. Howett, C. Jackman, R. A. Jacobson, D. E. Jennings, J. A. Kammer, H. K. Kang, D. E. Kaufmann, P. Kollmann, S. M. Krimigis, D. Kusnierkiewicz, T. R. Lauer, J. E. Lee, K. L. Lindstrom, I. R. Linscott, C. M. Lisse, A. W. Lunsford, V. A. Mallder, N. Martin, D. J. McComas, R. L. McNutt, D. Mehoke, T. Mehoke, E. D. Melin, M. Mutchler, D. Nelson, F. Nimmo, J. I. Nunez, A. Ocampo, W. M. Owen, M. Paetzold, B. Page, A. H. Parker, J. W. Parker, F. Pelletier, J. Peterson, N. Pinkine, M. Piquette, S. B. Porter, S. Protopapa, J. Redfern, H. J. Reitsema, D. C. Reuter, J. H. Roberts, S. J. Robbins, G. Rogers, D. Rose, K. Runyon, K. D. Retherford, M. G. Ryschkewitsch, P. Schenk, E. Schindhelm, B. Sepan, M. R. Showalter, K. N. Singer, M. Soluri, D. Stanbridge, A. J. Steffl, D. F. Strobel, T. Stryk, M. E. Summers, J. R. Szalay, M. Tapley, A. Taylor, H. Taylor, H. B. Throop, C. C.C. Tsang, G. L. Tyler, O. M. Umurhan, A. J. Verbiscer, M. H. Versteeg, M. Vincent, R. Webbert, S. Weidner, G. E. Weigle, O. L. White, K. Whittenburg, B. G. Williams, K. Williams, S. Williams, W. W. Woods, A. M. Zangari, E. Zirnstein

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371 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Pluto system was recently explored by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, making closest approach on 14 July 2015. Pluto's surface displays diverse landforms, terrain ages, albedos, colors, and composition gradients. Evidence is found for a water-ice crust, geologically young surface units, surface ice convection, wind streaks, volatile transport, and glacial flow. Pluto's atmosphere is highly extended, with trace hydrocarbons, a global haze layer, and a surface pressure near 10 microbars. Pluto's diverse surface geology and long-term activity raise fundamental questions about how small planets remain active many billions of years after formation. Pluto's large moon Charon displays tectonics and evidence for a heterogeneous crustal composition; its north pole displays puzzling dark terrain. Small satellites Hydra and Nix have higher albedos than expected.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberaad1815
JournalScience
Volume350
Issue number6258
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 16 2015
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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