New Horizons: Approach Phase, OpsNav - 25 January 15 to 28 June 15 Options

[ZLD]

Well this could mean several different things.

1) Previous observations have yielded lots of artifacts that have made their way into the final versions.
2) Current processing of NH data is yielding lots of artifacts
3) Pluto is quite active and has changed a bit in 20 years.

I'll be hoping for door #3.

Also, I think the maps actually look a lot alike.

Edit:

Here's a crude annotated comparison of features I notice.

[Bjorn Jonsson]

I think the most likely explanation is that the resolution of the NH images is now considerably higher than the resolution of the previous older data. My map should be fairly accurate (keeping in mind the resolution of the source data), except near the pole.

Of course I'm hoping for ZLD's #3 (changes to the surface) but I have doubts about large scale changes (I'm not sure though how fast the albedo features could change due to e.g. condensation and/or sublimation).

[Guest_Steve5304_*]

Actually, if you look at the HST maps on Mark Buie's website:

http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~buie/pluto/hrcmap.html

They don't really match each other!

Here is a comparison of an average of all five maps on Buie's page with the map I just posted above. I think the match is reasonable. The large dark patch and adjacent bright region are quite similar.

[attachment=36297:buie_ave...rizons_3.jpg]



Phil

Good catch.


Maybe plutos atmosphere is more fluid and active than we think. Maybe the surface is always changing. Ive seen a few videos of the possibility of planetwide hydrocarbon snowfalls on a pretty frequent basis when its closer to the sun.

[JRehling]

Well this could mean several different things.

1) Previous observations have yielded lots of artifacts that have made their way into the final versions.
2) Current processing of NH data is yielding lots of artifacts
3) Pluto is quite active and has changed a bit in 20 years.

Also, the HST maps were based on imagery using blue and ultraviolet filters. LORRI uses "wide spectral region extending approximately from 350 nm to 850 nm." A lot of worlds look different in UV than in a wide spectral range centered on the visible. Don't overlook this possible source of discrepancy.

[Phil Stooke]

New images from the 27th. We just have 2 (so far) - here they are enlarged 4x and merged with some stretching and sharpening. A bit more detail on Charon now?

Phil




PS - this is south up... the dark polar spot isn't apparent. Not sure why.

[ZLD]

June 27th data. Only 2 images again so word of caution in regards to noise presence.




(click to animate)



Also, I've been looking for a good short series of the Triton approach to test this same method on. If anyone wants to clue me in other than scouring OPUS/PA or the image indexes, I would grateful.

[alk3997]

June 27th data. Only 2 images again so word of caution in regards to noise presence.

...

Also, I've been looking for a good short series of the Triton approach to test this same method on. If anyone wants to clue me in other than scouring OPUS/PA or the image indexes, I would grateful.

That dark "patch" towards the sourthern part of Pluto still surprises me. I keep waiting for detail to emerge but nothing yet.

That brings me to a question. Is the black patch on Pluto about the same brightness as the dark pole of Charon? I keep thinking Charon's pole is lighter but that may be an optical illusion.

And, a second question...Was there enough resolution two weeks ago to actually tell if any of the bright areas towards the southern pole of Pluto have changed shape? I'm obviously thinking about clouds (or at least wispy versions of clouds). Changes in shape would be one way to get a hint of clouds.

Andy

[Phil Stooke]

That picture is south-up. The dark area is south of the equator. It's not the same as the tiny dark spot at the north pole which Bjorn illustrated earlier.

Phil

[alk3997]

That picture is south-up. The dark area is south of the equator. It's not the same as the tiny dark spot at the north pole which Bjorn illustrated earlier.

Phil

Thanks Phil. I'll correct my comment above.

Andy

[Julius]

Circa 40% of Tritons surface was imaged by Voyager..what percentage of Plutos surface will be imaged at close encounter by NH?

[Guest_Steve5304_*]

Circa 40% of Tritons surface was imaged by Voyager..what percentage of Plutos surface will be imaged at close encounter by NH?

All of it is going to get imaged. 35 percent at high resolution

[ZLD]

June 26, single image.




(click to animate)


(non corrected orientation)
The sharpness of Charon is almost certainly not real. The features may be similar but I don't think i can pull that sharp of a line.

-----
Edit
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Didn't realize there was such a large dump today.

Here's another from June 26.




(click to animate)

[nprev]

MOD NOTE: The New Horizons Pluto System Encounter thread is now open. Please post all observations after 28 Jun 15 on that thread. Thanks!

[Habukaz]

Placing a bet on a relatively bright spot on Charon (centre-left; from 27 June)

[surbiton]

New images from the 27th. We just have 2 (so far) - here they are enlarged 4x and merged with some stretching and sharpening. A bit more detail on Charon now?

Phil




PS - this is south up... the dark polar spot isn't apparent. Not sure why.

The two big dark patches [ one next to the South pole and the other one next to it ] - are they not just craters ? To my untrained eye,
it seems like that for a week or so.