NH Arrokoth (formerly Ultima Thule) Encounter Observations & Results, post-flyby discussion as the data arrives |
NH Arrokoth (formerly Ultima Thule) Encounter Observations & Results, post-flyby discussion as the data arrives |
Jan 4 2019, 01:16 AM
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8785 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
This will be where we talk about the data as it arrives over the next 20 months or so.
-------------------- 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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Jan 25 2019, 03:53 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 716 Joined: 3-January 08 Member No.: 3995 |
The sparse cratering is intriguing. So far, the bodies don’t seem to be crater-saturated as one would expect for small, primitive bodies. Either they were resurfaced, or we are seeing a barely altered primordial surface. I don’t know of any other body in the solar system where this is close to being the case. Of course, forthcoming images will provide more details.
Plus, the crater size distribution seems to be one large depression on Thule and a few pits near the limit of resolution. So far, there appears to be a dearth of intermediate sizes. It’ll be interesting to find out what this says — if anything— about object distribution in this part of the solar system, assuming these are impact craters. Also, there seem to be a number of concave scarps that are outward facing. Could these be slumping that occurred on an earlier, rapidly-rotating Ultima? |
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