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New Horizons: Pluto may have ice volcanoes New Horizons: Pluto may have ice volcanoes
(about 1 hour later)
Two possible ice volcanoes have been identified on the surface of Pluto.Two possible ice volcanoes have been identified on the surface of Pluto.
They are seen in images returned from the New Horizons probe, which flew past the dwarf planet in July. They are seen in images returned from the New Horizons probe, which flew past the distant dwarf planet in July.
The mountains are several km high and tens of km across, and each has what appears to be a depression in the top.The mountains are several km high and tens of km across, and each has what appears to be a depression in the top.
Unlike volcanoes on Earth that spew molten rock, Pluto's volcanoes - if that is what they are - would likely release an icy slush of substances such as water, nitrogen, or methane. Unlike Earth volcanoes that spew molten rock, Pluto's volcanoes - if that is what they are - would likely erupt an icy slush of substances such as water, nitrogen, ammonia or methane.
The mission team still needs to do further work to confirm the discovery. The suggestion was raised at the 47th annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences, where the mission team is presenting over 50 research reports from the flyby.
The scientists still need to do further work to confirm their volcano idea.
What would help in particular is information on the composition of the materials making up the local terrain.What would help in particular is information on the composition of the materials making up the local terrain.
"If we can constrain the compositions of these features then we'd have something to work with, with respect to modelling how this particular ice would behave if it were to be erupted volcanically, and what sort of relief it might be able to sustain," said Dr Oliver White from the US space agency (Nasa).
Previous claimsPrevious claims
However, New Horizons has not yet returned all its data from the flyby. This information may come in due course. New Horizons has not yet returned all of its data from the July encounter.
Only about 20% of its observations have been downlinked to Earth so far. Only about 20% of its observations have so far been downlinked to Earth.
But if cryo-volcanism can be established it is an exciting discovery. But if cryo-volcanism can be established, it would be an immensely exciting discovery.
While the phenomenon has been postulated to occur on several outer Solar System bodies, nothing convincing has been detected. While the phenomenon has been postulated to occur on several outer Solar System bodies, nothing really convincing has been detected; certainly not in terms of mountain-building.
The two candidates at Pluto are found just south of Sputnik Planum, the smooth plain on the planet's equator.The two candidates at Pluto are found just south of Sputnik Planum, the smooth plain on the planet's equator.
They have been informally called Wright Mons and Piccard Mons.They have been informally called Wright Mons and Piccard Mons.
On Earth or Mars, their shape recalls shield volcanoes - broad volcanoes that are built from repeat eruptions of low-viscosity fluids. On Earth or Mars, their shape recalls shield volcanoes - broad, tall edifices that develop from repeat eruptions of low-viscosity fluids.
Mars analogyMars analogy
As well as their putative calderas, they display a hummocky texture on their flanks that may represent old "lava" flows.As well as their putative calderas, they display a hummocky texture on their flanks that may represent old "lava" flows.
How recently they have been active, no-one can say currently. How recently they might have been active, though, no-one can say currently.
Pluto is a small body that should have lost most of its heat to space over the course of Solar System history.
That said, not a lot of energy would be required to melt and mobilise the cocktail of ices that coat the planet.
"It's just astounding that in all of the exploration that we have done, that the nearest neighbour analogy to these constructs occurs on Mars," commented Prof Alan Stern, the principal investigator on the New Horizons mission."It's just astounding that in all of the exploration that we have done, that the nearest neighbour analogy to these constructs occurs on Mars," commented Prof Alan Stern, the principal investigator on the New Horizons mission.
"You have to look all the way to the other Red Planet to find something similar. "You have to look all the way to the 'other Red Planet' to find something similar.
"Across all the worlds of the middle Solar System, we've seen nothing like this. It's truly amazing." "Across all the worlds of the middle Solar System, we've seen nothing like this. It's truly amazing."
It is now almost 120 days since New Horizons made its historic flyby of the dwarf planet and its moons.It is now almost 120 days since New Horizons made its historic flyby of the dwarf planet and its moons.
In that time, the probe has moved 140 million km deeper into the outer Solar System, some five billion km from Earth.In that time, the probe has moved 140 million km deeper into the outer Solar System, some five billion km from Earth.
Mission managers last week oversaw the last of four engine burns that put the spacecraft on course to meet its next target in 2019.Mission managers last week oversaw the last of four engine burns that put the spacecraft on course to meet its next target in 2019.
This is the much smaller icy body known simply as 2014 MU69.This is the much smaller icy body known simply as 2014 MU69.
It is thought to be no more than about 45km across, but New Horizons would hope to get substantially closer to the object than the 12,500km separation it achieved at Pluto.It is thought to be no more than about 45km across, but New Horizons would hope to get substantially closer to the object than the 12,500km separation it achieved at Pluto.
However, the team does not yet formally have funding from the US space agency to operate the probe at 2014 MU69.However, the team does not yet formally have funding from the US space agency to operate the probe at 2014 MU69.
A science proposal to win that support is likely to be submitted to Nasa some time next year.A science proposal to win that support is likely to be submitted to Nasa some time next year.
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmosJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos