Who would have thought that icy bodies smaller than our moon could be so alive. I find it strange how the terrestial rocky planets witt the exception of earth and venus look so old and dead. That's one for the geophysicists to sort out. Less viscous internal ocean/slush mantles perhaps?

That could be a good argument. However what needs to be considered here IMHO is that it's the first time we're seeing an icy planet NOT orbiting a giant planet as was mentioned in the briefing. I would think that it should influence the cratering rate, it being lower for pluto compared to say the Saturn moons where the giant planet serves as a gravity hole theoretically leading to higher rate of impacts.

Those ice mountains remind of Europa s surface up close although much higher at 11000 ft. I think Europa s topography did not surpass hundreds of meters?

we both know that there will be plenty of discussion now and in the future and that is what makes such missions of exploration and discovery exciting.

Nasa media briefing 3pm ET The end to all Pluto myths and speculation s on UMSF!?

The terrain above the dark region referred to as the whale seems particularly interesting with horizontal lines and black spots.

The variations of ice deposits on pluto could be related to composition or perhaps more significant local topography that might explain the persistence of the brightest region on the equator.

The highest resolution picture seems to show terrain carved by ice deposition and sublimation. The cratering visible even within the darkest regions seem to indicate whatever formed these must be old.

Climatic processes are at work at pluto judging from the latest picture. We need the close ups at closest approach to really be able to comment upon tectonic structures. I understand Alan Stern when he said he was not sure about tectonic structures on pluto at this point in time.

Welcome to Pluto!

The fact that our closest approach view will include the brightest region and part of the dark region together with other parts in between albedos ,should give us a good representation of all terrain types visualized so far on pluto.

It's still very difficult judging from the images to get a sense of topography. Although it would seem that the dark areas are topographic lows, the straight lines presumed to represent ice movement remain unclear whether the direction of movement is towards the north or towards the equator which we assume is the latter.

There is an interesting curvy line visible on the left limb of the Pluto disc over where the bright region is starting to come into view. That would be an interesting feature to view at the higher resolution.

I would think NH would be able to pick up any enceladus type plume activity after closest approach when it turns back to have a look at pluto s atmosphere.

Any activity from tidal forces after the formation of Charon would have settled by now. I would think that any internal activity from heat due to the rock content within pluto would have dissipated long ago.

To me it's most likely not to use the word evident that ice at the fringe of the presumed polar cap has melted causing some liquid or ice to flow toward the equatorial region . One can see some of the ice flows clearly entering the dark areas and those. are the structures we may be seeing within the dark regions.

Compositional data combined with higher res will perhaps give a more definite answer. Personally I dont see these structures as being aeolian but one can only assume at this point. Proof is in the eyes of the beholder.

I believe that we will get to see part of the whale at closest approach which will hopefully help us determine the true nature of the darkest terrain.

I'm very looking forward to seeing high resolution views of the brightest region.
I still cannot figure that out.

Those flow like features seem to have their origin from polygonal structures within the ice analogous to the chaotic terrain on Mars giving rise to flash flood features( or perhaps glaciers even) the likes of ares vallis.

It is evident that some fluid has flowed from underneath the ice down onto the dark areas. 'Tears of pluto 'if you like.

New image release. If it were on earth I would definitely have said those mysterious famous dark spots would resemble lakes!

ADMIN Note: Please post the link when you announce this. Thanks.

I'm guessing and I'm sure it's going to be my last one before closest approach, Charon could be looking like Ganymede!

It does not look like Charon has a lot of craters either at this resolution. Beautiful Charon!

The sharp contours are stunning. Are the shapes we see due to simply sublimation of ice or more complex geology? The sharp boundaries remind me of the continents/ocean boundaries on earth which we all know result from plate tectonics. The polygon feature seems to indicate fracturing or perhaps an ice flow which connects with the dark equatorial region!?

Yes I agree that's looking more like cantaloupe terrain to me marking the edge of the north polar cap. Is the white colour over the donut real? The brightest spot (heart) on the right limb of the disc still looks puzzling as it extends northwards towards the cap and looks eerily smooth from this vantage point as in previous images but showing a bit o topography perhaps now but could be an optical illusion.

Round this time yesterday we had new images. I wonder when the next pics are due .

How about Charon? I'm speculating at this point. Just having fun.

It starting to look like the brightest region really represents the 'bedrock' on pluto overlain by the polar icy cap and on top of that the dark dunes along the equatorial region. The question remains what's the origin of the dark dunes?