Pluto Surface Observations 1: NH Post-Encounter Phase, 1 Aug 2015- 10 Oct 2015 |
Pluto Surface Observations 1: NH Post-Encounter Phase, 1 Aug 2015- 10 Oct 2015 |
Aug 1 2015, 05:53 PM
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8785 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
This topic will contain images & discussion of same as they arrive during the extended download period. Similar threads will be opened in coming months as required as acquired data & discussion proceeds.
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Aug 10 2015, 01:38 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 153 Joined: 20-December 14 From: Eastbourne, UK Member No.: 7372 |
Since the older surface and the "glaciers" are suggested to be both made of mainly N2 ice, might it not be better to think in terms of "lava" flow rather than "Glacial" flow. Glacial flow requires lubrication, which could be possible under the main icecap, but towards the edges the lubrication would freeze and the "glacier" analogue looks less applicable.
The Northern part of Tombaugh Regio seems to be a large impact basin, one that has been largely filled in with Carbon Monoxide ice. The Nitrogen ice making up the majority of Pluto's surface, has two allotropes, one with a hexagonal type crystal structure, the other has a cubic structure, the same as diamond. This second form only forms at high pressure. It is reasonable to propose that the rim of the crater and the basin itself, is composed of this "harder" form of Nitrogen ice and is covered in the "softer", "normal" Nitrogen and Carbon Monoxide ice. This softer ice does not have the mechanical strength to sustain the height of the crater rim and so has "slumped" in a more "plastic" flow, over the more solid layer below. One might guess the "diamond" form of Nitrogen ice might be close to transparent too. Not sure if the Ralph or Alice data could differentiate between the two forms of Nitrogen ice, it could be very informative if they can. The shock wave travelling through the surrounding ice could also create "ridges" of harder Nitrogen ice. G.I.'s image suggests this possibility in the area to the North West of Tombaugh (5 O'Clock in the image). |
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