Liquid Nitrogen Found on Pluto's Surface

Topic: Space

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has discovered signs of liquid nitrogen flowing on Pluto. The finding suggests that liquids have flowed on Pluto in recent times and provides new insights into the dwarf planet's geology.

A team of scientists led by Dr. Alan Stern, Associate Vice President at Southwest Research Institute, analyzed data from New Horizons to find evidence of liquid nitrogen on Pluto. They focused on Sputnik Planitia, a vast glacier made mostly of frozen nitrogen that covers part of the dwarf planet's surface.

The researchers compared images of Sputnik Planitia with those taken by NASA Landsat 9 of Earth's glaciers and found similar patterns. On Greenland's ice sheet, dark markings appear where liquid water is present on top of ice and snow. Similar patterns were seen on Pluto, suggesting that subsurface liquid nitrogen may be rising upward and wetting the frozen surface.

The team used computer simulations to explain how this could happen. They found that nitrogen ice at the bottom of Sputnik Planitia can melt and produce liquid nitrogen, which then rises through narrow channels toward the surface. This process creates dark markings on the surface as the liquid nitrogen wets the surrounding ice.

The findings have been published in the peer-reviewed Planetary Science Journal and provide new insights into Pluto's geology. They also suggest that Pluto is not as static as previously thought, but has dynamic processes occurring beneath its surface.

Why It Matters

This discovery helps us better understand the geology of other planets and moons in our solar system. It also shows that even in extreme environments like Pluto, liquid can exist and play a crucial role in shaping the surface.

Key Facts

• NASA's New Horizons spacecraft discovered signs of liquid nitrogen flowing on Pluto's surface.
• The finding suggests that liquids have flowed on Pluto in recent times.
• Sputnik Planitia is a vast glacier made mostly of frozen nitrogen that covers part of Pluto's surface.
• The researchers compared images of Sputnik Planitia with those taken by NASA Landsat 9 of Earth's glaciers to find similar patterns.
• Computer simulations suggest that nitrogen ice at the bottom of Sputnik Planitia can melt and produce liquid nitrogen.

Key Terms

Subsurface

Below the surface, in this case, below Pluto's frozen surface

Convective flows

Movement of materials due to heat or other forces

Implications

This discovery helps us better understand the geology of other planets and moons in our solar system. It also shows that even in extreme environments like Pluto, liquid can exist and play a crucial role in shaping the surface.