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| Nasa unveils 'surprise' Pluto photos and New Horizons discoveries – as it happened | Nasa unveils 'surprise' Pluto photos and New Horizons discoveries – as it happened |
| (6 months later) | |
| 9.19pm BST | |
| 21:19 | |
| We’re going to close our live coverage of the New Horizons mission to Pluto with a quick summary of Nasa’s most recent revelations from the edge of our solar system. | We’re going to close our live coverage of the New Horizons mission to Pluto with a quick summary of Nasa’s most recent revelations from the edge of our solar system. |
| 9.02pm BST | |
| 21:02 | |
| There’s something about these two worlds that’s “very very different,” Stern says. One has an atmosphere, the other doesn’t, one is covered in water ice, the other in volatiles (a category of active chemicals). | There’s something about these two worlds that’s “very very different,” Stern says. One has an atmosphere, the other doesn’t, one is covered in water ice, the other in volatiles (a category of active chemicals). |
| “It’s a puzzle, it’s a real puzzle.” | “It’s a puzzle, it’s a real puzzle.” |
| And with that Dwayne Brown convenes the briefing – at least until Friday, when Stern and the others will meet the press again from Nasa headquarters. | And with that Dwayne Brown convenes the briefing – at least until Friday, when Stern and the others will meet the press again from Nasa headquarters. |
| 9.00pm BST | |
| 21:00 | |
| The team reacted with “something close to bedlam” with the data coming down in the past 24 hours, Stern says. | The team reacted with “something close to bedlam” with the data coming down in the past 24 hours, Stern says. |
| “I don’t think any of us could’ve imagined that it was this good a toy store.” | “I don’t think any of us could’ve imagined that it was this good a toy store.” |
| “This is what we came for,” Weaver says. | “This is what we came for,” Weaver says. |
| “This exceeds what we came for,” Olkin interjects. | “This exceeds what we came for,” Olkin interjects. |
| 8.59pm BST | |
| 20:59 | |
| “It’s like piles of stuff with grooves on it,” John Spencer says. | “It’s like piles of stuff with grooves on it,” John Spencer says. |
| “There’s been erosion, there’s been mountain building,” he says, “and it’s baffling, it’s baffling in a very interesting and wonderful way.” | “There’s been erosion, there’s been mountain building,” he says, “and it’s baffling, it’s baffling in a very interesting and wonderful way.” |
| “I hope that when we get some more context,” he concludes, “it’ll start to make some sense.” | “I hope that when we get some more context,” he concludes, “it’ll start to make some sense.” |
| The ice mountain range – about the size of the Rockies, Stern says – is at about the base of the heart region, now known as Tombaugh Reggio. | The ice mountain range – about the size of the Rockies, Stern says – is at about the base of the heart region, now known as Tombaugh Reggio. |
| Spencer says that the day’s data shows that these small or mid-size worlds could be as complex and active as larger worlds “if we can get a spacecraft to them”. | Spencer says that the day’s data shows that these small or mid-size worlds could be as complex and active as larger worlds “if we can get a spacecraft to them”. |
| “This doesn’t look like Triton which is the world we thought up till now in our solar system that is most similar to Pluto,” he says. | “This doesn’t look like Triton which is the world we thought up till now in our solar system that is most similar to Pluto,” he says. |
| “It doesn’t look at all like this, there’s something very different about Plutonian geology.” | “It doesn’t look at all like this, there’s something very different about Plutonian geology.” |
| As for Charon, “it looks a little bit like some of the moons of Uranus, I would say.” | As for Charon, “it looks a little bit like some of the moons of Uranus, I would say.” |
| But Spencer and the team resist any comparisons to other worlds so far, simply because they have so much data to investigate – and because the data means they have to go back and look at other worlds. | But Spencer and the team resist any comparisons to other worlds so far, simply because they have so much data to investigate – and because the data means they have to go back and look at other worlds. |
| “Now that I would say we can get these kinds of activity on worlds that do not get tidal heating, I would say we have to go back and look at that.” | “Now that I would say we can get these kinds of activity on worlds that do not get tidal heating, I would say we have to go back and look at that.” |
| “Pluto has so much diversity,” Olkin adds. “There’s nothing like it.” | “Pluto has so much diversity,” Olkin adds. “There’s nothing like it.” |
| 8.51pm BST | |
| 20:51 | |
| The New York Times’ science writer Dennis Overbye tweets what the Nasa team is too happy and polite to say themselves. | The New York Times’ science writer Dennis Overbye tweets what the Nasa team is too happy and polite to say themselves. |
| As usual after the first look at a planet, nobody knows anything #pluto | As usual after the first look at a planet, nobody knows anything #pluto |
| 8.50pm BST | |
| 20:50 | |
| Stern says he’s hopeful to find craters “as windows into the interior”, and he and Grundy say they’re waiting on some more results to determine what kinds of organic chemicals might be present on the surface or in the atmosphere. | Stern says he’s hopeful to find craters “as windows into the interior”, and he and Grundy say they’re waiting on some more results to determine what kinds of organic chemicals might be present on the surface or in the atmosphere. |
| He then talks a bit about how the mission is looking into how Pluto’s atmosphere is escaping – very quickly, mostly. | He then talks a bit about how the mission is looking into how Pluto’s atmosphere is escaping – very quickly, mostly. |
| Learning more about that process will help reveal what happened in the infancy of the Earth-Moon system, Stern says, when it’s believed that the earth lost its “poisonous envelope” of toxic chemicals. | Learning more about that process will help reveal what happened in the infancy of the Earth-Moon system, Stern says, when it’s believed that the earth lost its “poisonous envelope” of toxic chemicals. |
| The variables of determining how fast the atmosphere is escaping, how that relates to the sun, etc, should “give us a good handle on the numerical models that are used to understand the early Earth and the loss of our atmosphere.” | The variables of determining how fast the atmosphere is escaping, how that relates to the sun, etc, should “give us a good handle on the numerical models that are used to understand the early Earth and the loss of our atmosphere.” |
| The research also “has some implications on the loss of water from early Mars,” he adds, and will “ultimately translate into a better understanding of other planets in our solar system.” | The research also “has some implications on the loss of water from early Mars,” he adds, and will “ultimately translate into a better understanding of other planets in our solar system.” |
| 8.41pm BST | |
| 20:41 | |
| Stern says that he’s been very surprised by the evidence of geological activity, and Hal Weaver says that he’s stunned by the massive ice mountains. | Stern says that he’s been very surprised by the evidence of geological activity, and Hal Weaver says that he’s stunned by the massive ice mountains. |
| There’s “an amazing diversity” of topography and compositional regions, Grundy says, which he thinks suggests a corresponding diversity of systems and processes – a far more complex world than most people predicted. | There’s “an amazing diversity” of topography and compositional regions, Grundy says, which he thinks suggests a corresponding diversity of systems and processes – a far more complex world than most people predicted. |
| 8.39pm BST | |
| 20:39 | |
| A reporter asks Stern whether his predictions of “something wonderful” were realized. | A reporter asks Stern whether his predictions of “something wonderful” were realized. |
| “Ya think?” Stern tosses back. “The Pluto system is something wonderful.” | “Ya think?” Stern tosses back. “The Pluto system is something wonderful.” |
| Quite a few reporters ask about the activity on Charon, but the researchers are loathe to make an predictions – with one pointing out that they could be embarrassed as soon as tomorrow when better data comes through from the spacecraft. | Quite a few reporters ask about the activity on Charon, but the researchers are loathe to make an predictions – with one pointing out that they could be embarrassed as soon as tomorrow when better data comes through from the spacecraft. |
| Stern says that spectroscopic data could help explain a particularly dark region on Charon: “If it’s a basin that would be pretty obvious for example, and if it’s a raised plateau that would mean something else.” | Stern says that spectroscopic data could help explain a particularly dark region on Charon: “If it’s a basin that would be pretty obvious for example, and if it’s a raised plateau that would mean something else.” |
| Another asks about what kind of energy source might be generating the activity on Pluto and Charon. | Another asks about what kind of energy source might be generating the activity on Pluto and Charon. |
| “We know that there’s radioactive material inside Pluto and Charon,” a researcher answers, “as there is inside any average body in our solar system” | “We know that there’s radioactive material inside Pluto and Charon,” a researcher answers, “as there is inside any average body in our solar system” |
| He notes that the Earth in contrast “is a lot bigger and keep hold of that heat,” so the discovery of activity might mean “even very small bodies if they’re very icy, radioactive heat” can generate activity. Or “there may be ways that bodies can store heat” from their formation for a very long time, or “maybe an ocean raises heat into the crust and that can create activity.” | He notes that the Earth in contrast “is a lot bigger and keep hold of that heat,” so the discovery of activity might mean “even very small bodies if they’re very icy, radioactive heat” can generate activity. Or “there may be ways that bodies can store heat” from their formation for a very long time, or “maybe an ocean raises heat into the crust and that can create activity.” |
| Stern cuts in: “one thing that we can say for sure is that tidal energy is not at work and we know that because Pluto and Charon are in tidal equilibrium.” | Stern cuts in: “one thing that we can say for sure is that tidal energy is not at work and we know that because Pluto and Charon are in tidal equilibrium.” |
| 8.31pm BST | |
| 20:31 | |
| The Smithsonian’s Alexis Stemplen provides a little perspective about how active Pluto is and how young those mountains are. | The Smithsonian’s Alexis Stemplen provides a little perspective about how active Pluto is and how young those mountains are. |
| This is likely less than 100 million years old. That's younger than the Himalayas! #PlutoFlyby https://t.co/AFtpVURg2O | This is likely less than 100 million years old. That's younger than the Himalayas! #PlutoFlyby https://t.co/AFtpVURg2O |
| 8.30pm BST | |
| 20:30 | |
| A little context from Nasa on that close-up image of Pluto’s surface. | A little context from Nasa on that close-up image of Pluto’s surface. |
| Zoom into Pluto & discover mountains, seen during yesterday's @NASANewHorizons #PlutoFlyby: http://t.co/6QLXLxiW0o https://t.co/toJQ0j7wB6 | Zoom into Pluto & discover mountains, seen during yesterday's @NASANewHorizons #PlutoFlyby: http://t.co/6QLXLxiW0o https://t.co/toJQ0j7wB6 |
| Updated | |
| at 8.33pm BST | |
| 8.29pm BST | |
| 20:29 | |
| Water on Pluto | Water on Pluto |
| Stern is now talking about water on Pluto: “the bedrock that makes those mountains must be made of H2O, of water ice.” | Stern is now talking about water on Pluto: “the bedrock that makes those mountains must be made of H2O, of water ice.” |
| He says that in some areas it looks like “the nitrogen veneer has been scraped off,” and “we can be very sure that the water is there in great abundance.” | He says that in some areas it looks like “the nitrogen veneer has been scraped off,” and “we can be very sure that the water is there in great abundance.” |
| Stern then talks a bit about how the look at Pluto’s “steep topography” suggests “there must be internal activity that’s dredging activity up”. | Stern then talks a bit about how the look at Pluto’s “steep topography” suggests “there must be internal activity that’s dredging activity up”. |
| “We haven’t found geysers, and we haven’t found cryovolcanoes,” but he says this means it’s a good indication that the team should be looking for them. | “We haven’t found geysers, and we haven’t found cryovolcanoes,” but he says this means it’s a good indication that the team should be looking for them. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.30pm BST | |
| 8.25pm BST | |
| 20:25 | |
| “This is the first time we’ve seen an icy world that isn’t orbiting an icy planet,” he continues. | “This is the first time we’ve seen an icy world that isn’t orbiting an icy planet,” he continues. |
| “There is no giant body that can be deforming Pluto on an ongoing regular basis to heat the interior,” he says, “so this is telling us you don’t need tidal heating to power” change on icy worlds – “this is a really big discovery that we’ve just made this morning.” | “There is no giant body that can be deforming Pluto on an ongoing regular basis to heat the interior,” he says, “so this is telling us you don’t need tidal heating to power” change on icy worlds – “this is a really big discovery that we’ve just made this morning.” |
| Stern takes over: “we now have an isolated, small planet that’s showing activity after four and a half billion years.” | Stern takes over: “we now have an isolated, small planet that’s showing activity after four and a half billion years.” |
| “We’ve settled the fact that these very small planets can be active for a long time, and I think that’s going to send a lot of geophysicists back to the drawing board.” | “We’ve settled the fact that these very small planets can be active for a long time, and I think that’s going to send a lot of geophysicists back to the drawing board.” |
| 8.22pm BST | |
| 20:22 | |
| New Pluto image | New Pluto image |
| Another researcher says that the team is named the heart-shaped region on Pluto after the discoverer of the planet, Clyde Tombaugh. | Another researcher says that the team is named the heart-shaped region on Pluto after the discoverer of the planet, Clyde Tombaugh. |
| “While [the heart] was a good name, we wanted to honor the discoverer,” he says. | “While [the heart] was a good name, we wanted to honor the discoverer,” he says. |
| They zoom into one part of the yesterday’s photo of Pluto with the first very high resolution image. He says surprisingly that they have not found a single impact crater on this image. | They zoom into one part of the yesterday’s photo of Pluto with the first very high resolution image. He says surprisingly that they have not found a single impact crater on this image. |
| “Probably less than 100 million years old, which is a small fraction” of the age of the solar system, he says. “These mountains we’res seeing are quite spectacular, they might be up to 11,000ft high.” | “Probably less than 100 million years old, which is a small fraction” of the age of the solar system, he says. “These mountains we’res seeing are quite spectacular, they might be up to 11,000ft high.” |
| He says the surface is covered with a lot of nitrogen, ice, methane ice – “you just can’t make mountains out of that stuff, so we’re seeing the bedrock.” | He says the surface is covered with a lot of nitrogen, ice, methane ice – “you just can’t make mountains out of that stuff, so we’re seeing the bedrock.” |
| Updated | |
| at 8.29pm BST | |
| 8.17pm BST | |
| 20:17 | |
| Charon | Charon |
| Cathy Olkin is now describing a new image of Charon, the largest of Pluto’s moons, named for the ferryman of Greek mythology who carried the dead across the river Styx. | Cathy Olkin is now describing a new image of Charon, the largest of Pluto’s moons, named for the ferryman of Greek mythology who carried the dead across the river Styx. |
| She says that the team has been describing the dark region near the pole as Mordor, and that the dark area may be a veneer and the brighter regions craters. “Going from the north-east to the south-west is a series of troughs and cliffs,” she says. “It’s amazing ot see this image.” | She says that the team has been describing the dark region near the pole as Mordor, and that the dark area may be a veneer and the brighter regions craters. “Going from the north-east to the south-west is a series of troughs and cliffs,” she says. “It’s amazing ot see this image.” |
| “The extend about 600 miles across the planet, so this is a huge area and it could be that it’s due to internal processes.” | “The extend about 600 miles across the planet, so this is a huge area and it could be that it’s due to internal processes.” |
| She says below that region is a region where “it’s relatively smooth,” suggesting “it’s geologically active or resurfacing” in that area. | She says below that region is a region where “it’s relatively smooth,” suggesting “it’s geologically active or resurfacing” in that area. |
| Near the top – “at about the two o’clock position” she points out a canyon. “That canyon is really quite deep, it’s about four to six miles deep. I find that fascinating.” | Near the top – “at about the two o’clock position” she points out a canyon. “That canyon is really quite deep, it’s about four to six miles deep. I find that fascinating.” |
| “So it’s a small world with deep canyons, troughs, cliffs, small regions that are still quite mysterious to us.” | “So it’s a small world with deep canyons, troughs, cliffs, small regions that are still quite mysterious to us.” |
| “There’s so much interesting science in this one small image alone.” | “There’s so much interesting science in this one small image alone.” |
| Updated | |
| at 8.29pm BST | |
| 8.13pm BST | |
| 20:13 | |
| Will Grundy from the composition team is now showing photos from some of New Horizons’ instruments. He talks about the different regions – polar caps and the high active region (the red toward the bottom), for instance – and says that there will be quite a lot of information to come. | Will Grundy from the composition team is now showing photos from some of New Horizons’ instruments. He talks about the different regions – polar caps and the high active region (the red toward the bottom), for instance – and says that there will be quite a lot of information to come. |
| 8.09pm BST | |
| 20:09 | |
| Hydra | Hydra |
| Hal Weaver, another investigator, says that “Pluto and Charon are going to steal the day” but that there are the first well resolved images of Hydra – one of Pluto’s moons. | Hal Weaver, another investigator, says that “Pluto and Charon are going to steal the day” but that there are the first well resolved images of Hydra – one of Pluto’s moons. |
| He describes its elongated, “surprisingly large” dimensions and jokes: “Hydra’s not a planet”. It’s primarily composed of water ice, he adds, and some higher resolution images are on their way. | He describes its elongated, “surprisingly large” dimensions and jokes: “Hydra’s not a planet”. It’s primarily composed of water ice, he adds, and some higher resolution images are on their way. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.29pm BST | |
| 8.06pm BST | |
| 20:06 | |
| Stern starts off coy: “Well I had a pretty good day yesterday, how about you?” | Stern starts off coy: “Well I had a pretty good day yesterday, how about you?” |
| The spacecraft is “now more than a million miles on the other side of Pluto,” Stern says. “The spacecraft is in good health it communicated with Earth for a number of hours this morning. | The spacecraft is “now more than a million miles on the other side of Pluto,” Stern says. “The spacecraft is in good health it communicated with Earth for a number of hours this morning. |
| He says the team will report some of the results but “we’re just skimming the top of that.” | He says the team will report some of the results but “we’re just skimming the top of that.” |
| Stern adds that there are “mountains in the Kuiper belt,” that “Charon is active” and that the team has gained the first photos of one of Pluto’s moons. | Stern adds that there are “mountains in the Kuiper belt,” that “Charon is active” and that the team has gained the first photos of one of Pluto’s moons. |
| 8.05pm BST | |
| 20:05 | |
| With the new Pluto photo over the auditorium, Nasa spokesman Dwayne Brown says that the team has brought “what was once a blurred light” into focus. | With the new Pluto photo over the auditorium, Nasa spokesman Dwayne Brown says that the team has brought “what was once a blurred light” into focus. |
| He turns the mic over to Alan Stern, lead researcher of New Horizons. | He turns the mic over to Alan Stern, lead researcher of New Horizons. |
| 8.02pm BST | |
| 20:02 | |
| The briefing has just begun at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland – Nasa’s Dr John Grunsfeld, associate administrator, is first up at the podium. | The briefing has just begun at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland – Nasa’s Dr John Grunsfeld, associate administrator, is first up at the podium. |
| “Anybody get any sleep last night?” he asks – “I’m not going to ask the team,” he adds, saying he knows the answer. | “Anybody get any sleep last night?” he asks – “I’m not going to ask the team,” he adds, saying he knows the answer. |
| He starts running through photos of Mercury, Venus, Earth… | He starts running through photos of Mercury, Venus, Earth… |
| 7.48pm BST | |
| 19:48 | |
| Alan Stern, lead scientist on the New Horizons project, has been working on a mission to Pluto for more than two decades – he’s expressed a lot of elation over the past few days as the spacecraft flew by Pluto and then re-established contact with Earth hours later. | Alan Stern, lead scientist on the New Horizons project, has been working on a mission to Pluto for more than two decades – he’s expressed a lot of elation over the past few days as the spacecraft flew by Pluto and then re-established contact with Earth hours later. |
| But posterity (or at least the internet) will not soon forget his reaction to the soon-to-be-released photos, the best ever taken of Pluto. | But posterity (or at least the internet) will not soon forget his reaction to the soon-to-be-released photos, the best ever taken of Pluto. |
| ENHANCE! Amazing @alanstern reaction to #PlutoFlyby pics h/t @b0yle @NASANewHorizons pic.twitter.com/0tlxsLAOfd | ENHANCE! Amazing @alanstern reaction to #PlutoFlyby pics h/t @b0yle @NASANewHorizons pic.twitter.com/0tlxsLAOfd |
| Updated | |
| at 7.49pm BST | |
| 7.41pm BST | |
| 19:41 | |
| The New Horizons spacecraft traveled more than three billion miles to reach Pluto, and is now heading off into a range known as the Kuiper belt – the frontier of our solar system, where all kinds of icy fragments, Pluto-sized dwarf planets and other objects are swirling in their various orbits. | The New Horizons spacecraft traveled more than three billion miles to reach Pluto, and is now heading off into a range known as the Kuiper belt – the frontier of our solar system, where all kinds of icy fragments, Pluto-sized dwarf planets and other objects are swirling in their various orbits. |
| 7.14pm BST | |
| 19:14 | |
| Welcome to our continuing live coverage of Nasa’s New Horizons mission, which on Tuesday successfully brought mankind closer to Pluto than ever before and will reveal more about the mysterious dwarf planet over the next 16 months. | Welcome to our continuing live coverage of Nasa’s New Horizons mission, which on Tuesday successfully brought mankind closer to Pluto than ever before and will reveal more about the mysterious dwarf planet over the next 16 months. |
| On Wednesday at 3pm ET (8pm in London, 5am in Sydney) the New Horizons team is expected to unveil and describe new high-resolution photographs sent from the spacecraft, the most detailed ever of Pluto. Earlier this week Nasa published the best photos yet of the former ninth planet, revealing a heart-shaped stretch of terrain and icy polar caps. | On Wednesday at 3pm ET (8pm in London, 5am in Sydney) the New Horizons team is expected to unveil and describe new high-resolution photographs sent from the spacecraft, the most detailed ever of Pluto. Earlier this week Nasa published the best photos yet of the former ninth planet, revealing a heart-shaped stretch of terrain and icy polar caps. |
| “It’s going to be a surprise,” Nasa planetary scientist David Grinspoon told the Guardian of the new images to be revealed. “There’s a lot of data coming in, and the real question is what’s going to be released.” | “It’s going to be a surprise,” Nasa planetary scientist David Grinspoon told the Guardian of the new images to be revealed. “There’s a lot of data coming in, and the real question is what’s going to be released.” |
| He added: | He added: |
| Given what we’ve seen, we know something of the areas we’re going to be imaging. There are large areas of this very bright, seemingly smoother terrain that makes this feature that they’re calling the heart. | Given what we’ve seen, we know something of the areas we’re going to be imaging. There are large areas of this very bright, seemingly smoother terrain that makes this feature that they’re calling the heart. |
| Then to the west of that the contact abruptly seems to change to this darker material, so it’ll be very interesting to look at the contact between those different kinds of terrain and see if we can infer from that the geological history. | Then to the west of that the contact abruptly seems to change to this darker material, so it’ll be very interesting to look at the contact between those different kinds of terrain and see if we can infer from that the geological history. |
| From the photos Grinspoon said he hoped that the team would be able to begin learning about what Pluto’s surface is like and how it formed: whether we can spot dunes or snow drifts, craters or erosion, signs of age. | From the photos Grinspoon said he hoped that the team would be able to begin learning about what Pluto’s surface is like and how it formed: whether we can spot dunes or snow drifts, craters or erosion, signs of age. |
| We’ll be updating the blog with the news from Nasa, analysis from its scientists, and all things Plutonian and plutoid. | We’ll be updating the blog with the news from Nasa, analysis from its scientists, and all things Plutonian and plutoid. |
| Updated | |
| at 7.46pm BST |