New Horizons Pluto System Final Approach, 28 Jun-13 Jul 15 Options

[fred_76]

Image of the 3rd July 23:25 (based on 3 images), deconvolution and scale x2 :

[Ian R]

Looks to me like the 'doughnut' feature was spotted in the mutual events data collected from 1954 to 1990:

[alk3997]

Image of the 3rd July 23:25 (based on 3 images), deconvolution and scale x2 :

...

Looking at fred_76's last two sets of images (thanks!), the donut looks to be slightly behind the sub-Charon point with the "whale" trailing. The second of the railroad ties is just slightly ahead of the sub-Charon point.

It's very difficult not to believe (and I know we are still far away) that Charon has not had a major influence on Pluto's topography.

We'll see how smart or silly that statement sounds in a week. It's a dangerous time to be making predictions...

Andy

[Arnold Evans]

I was very interested in the new map that was released yesterday. In my spare time overnight at work I slammed together a comparison of the new map with the maps Hubble made of Pluto in 1994 and 2003. I realize the map yesterday misses the lower half of the globe, but the comparison shows a striking amount of similarity. I also know that reading too much into this at this point is foolish since we'll all be looking at high detail by this time next week. Still, I'm impressed at how well Hubble did.

[pioneer]

Wasn't there supposed to be a press conference a half hour ago on NH?

[ElkGroveDan]

It's very difficult not to believe (and I know we are still far away) that Charon has not had a major influence on Pluto's topography.

Agreed, and V/V. It still boggles my mind that within the Pluto-Charon system the center of mass is located outside of Pluto itself. I suppose it's a matter of semantics, but I think that fact, and the location of that center-of-mass will be the key to understanding the surface features we are about to observe on Pluto.

[Guest_Steve5304_*]

Hydra is very strange almost spaceship looking...


Tho I realize there is not a lot of sunlight out this far. I am so excited. What is the best resolution pictures of Hydra/Stx/Kerberos/Nix do you think we will get?

[JRehling]

If Hydra ends up being multi-headed, that will be a strange coincidence for the ages.

[Julius]

New image released! Still at this higher resolution it's hard to see topography on Pluto's surface. That big bright spot over the equator looks surprisingly smooth.

[Habukaz]

Here is the release: http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-new-hor...as-flyby-begins

[Guest_Steve5304_*]

Based on that image...The artistic rendering of pluto over the years has been pretty darn close

[alk3997]

Here is the release: http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-new-hor...as-flyby-begins

My mind is sure wanting to interpret dunes in that image.

Don't make too much out of the apparent altitude increase at the horizon - that looks like an enhancement artifact.

And since the previous press release referenced "The Man on the Moon", there is a Face on Pluto. Around the 5 o'clock position and extending to the lower right, there is a profile view, with an eye, prominent nose and mouth. I could continue but I'll get myself in trouble...

Andy

[Julius]

Agreed. Dark dunes with perhaps streaks representing dust transport by wind?

[volcanopele]

Yep, Pluto is really looking Titan-like in that photo (sans thick atmosphere and polar lakes/polar bright terrain). The bright equatorial region reminds me of Xanadu and the dark regions REALLY remind me of Shangri-La and the other dune seas on Titan.

True, there are many different ways to make these kinds of patterns, dark mantling with craters punching through and bringing up bright material below it, but still.

[Julius]

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?