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| Hubble shows Pluto 'turning red' | Hubble shows Pluto 'turning red' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nasa scientists say that dwarf planet Pluto, on the edge of our solar system, is becoming increasingly red. | Nasa scientists say that dwarf planet Pluto, on the edge of our solar system, is becoming increasingly red. |
| Images taken by the Hubble space telescope show that the planet is some 20% redder than it used to be. | Images taken by the Hubble space telescope show that the planet is some 20% redder than it used to be. |
| Experts say they believe this is because of changes in Pluto's surface ice as it enters a new phase of its 248-year-long rotation. | Experts say they believe this is because of changes in Pluto's surface ice as it enters a new phase of its 248-year-long rotation. |
| The new images are said to show frozen nitrogen brightening in the north and becoming darker in the south. | The new images are said to show frozen nitrogen brightening in the north and becoming darker in the south. |
| "These changes are most likely consequences of surface ice melting on the sunlit pole and then re-freezing on the other pole," Nasa's Space Telescope Science Institute said in a statement. | "These changes are most likely consequences of surface ice melting on the sunlit pole and then re-freezing on the other pole," Nasa's Space Telescope Science Institute said in a statement. |
| But some astronomers have expressed shock at the changes. | But some astronomers have expressed shock at the changes. |
| "It's a little bit of a surprise to see these changes happening so big and so fast," said Marc Buie, of the Southwest Research Institute. "This is unprecedented." | |
| In 2006, astronomers stripped Pluto of its status as a full planet, downgrading it to a dwarf planet. | In 2006, astronomers stripped Pluto of its status as a full planet, downgrading it to a dwarf planet. |
| Further away and considerably smaller than the eight other "traditional" planets in our solar system, Pluto - at just 2,360km (1,467 miles) across - is smaller even than some moons. | Further away and considerably smaller than the eight other "traditional" planets in our solar system, Pluto - at just 2,360km (1,467 miles) across - is smaller even than some moons. |
| But the red tinge is not thought to have had a marked effect on Pluto's temperature: despite any redness, Pluto's surface temperature is incredibly cold at -233C (-382F). | But the red tinge is not thought to have had a marked effect on Pluto's temperature: despite any redness, Pluto's surface temperature is incredibly cold at -233C (-382F). |