The Pluto system: Initial results from its exploration by
New Horizons
S. A. Stern, F. Bagenal, K. Ennico, G. R. Gladstone, W. M. Grundy,
W. B. McKinnon, J. M. Moore, C. B. Olkin, J. R. Spencer, H. A. Weaver,
L. A. Young, T. Andert, J. Andrews, M. Banks, B. Bauer, J. Bauman,
O. S. Barnouin, P. Bedini, K. Beisser, R. A. Beyer, S. Bhaskaran, R. P. Binzel,
E. Birath, M. Bird, D. J. Bogan, A. Bowman, V. J. Bray, M. Brozovic,
C. Bryan, M. R. Buckley, M. W. Buie, B. J. Buratti, S. S. Bushman, A. Calloway,
B. Carcich, A. F. Cheng, S. Conard, C. A. Conrad, J. C. Cook, D. P. Cruikshank,
O. S. Custodio, C. M. Dalle Ore, C. Deboy, Z. J. B. Dischner, P. Dumont,
A. M. Earle, H. A. Elliott, J. Ercol, C. M. Ernst, T. Finley, S. H. Flanigan,
G. Fountain, M. J. Freeze, T. Greathouse, J. L. Green, Y. Guo, M. Hahn,
D. P. Hamilton, S. A. Hamilton, J. Hanley, A. Harch, H. M. Hart, C. B. Hersman,
A. Hill, M. E. Hill, D. P. Hinson, M. E. Holdridge, M. Horanyi, A. D. Howard,
C. J. A. Howett, C. Jackman, R. A. Jacobson, D. E. Jennings, J. A. Kammer,
H. K. Kang, D. E. Kaufmann, P. Kollmann, S. M. Krimigis, D. Kusnierkiewicz,
T. R. Lauer, J. E. Lee, K. L. Lindstrom, I. R. Linscott, C. M. Lisse,
A. W. Lunsford, V. A. Mallder, N. Martin, D. J. McComas, R. L. McNutt,
D. Mehoke, T. Mehoke, E. D. Melin, M. Mutchler, D. Nelson, F. Nimmo,
J. I. Nunez, A. Ocampo, W. M. Owen, M. Paetzold, B. Page, A. H. Parker,
J. W. Parker, F. Pelletier, J. Peterson, N. Pinkine, M. Piquette, S. B. Porter,
S. Protopapa, J. Redfern, H. J. Reitsema, D. C. Reuter, J. H. Roberts,
S. J. Robbins, G. Rogers, D. Rose, K. Runyon, K. D. Retherford,
M. G. Ryschkewitsch, P. Schenk, E. Schindhelm, B. Sepan, M. R. Showalter,
K. N. Singer, M. Soluri, D. Stanbridge, A. J. Steffl, D. F. Strobel,
T. Stryk, M. E. Summers, J. R. Szalay, M. Tapley, A. Taylor, H. Taylor,
H. B. Throop, C. C. C. Tsang, G. L. Tyler, O. M. Umurhan, A. J. Verbiscer,
M. H. Versteeg, M. Vincent, R. Webbert, S. Weidner, G. E. Weigle,
O. L. White, K. Whittenburg, B. G. Williams, K. Williams, S. Williams,
W. W. Woods, A. M. Zangari, and E. Zirnstein.
Science, 350, 1815 (2015).
ABSTRACT
The Pluto system was recently explored by NASA’s New Horizons
spacecraft, making closest approach on 14 July 2015. Pluto’s surface
displays diverse landforms, terrain ages, albedos, colors, and composition
gradients. Evidence is found for a water-ice crust, geologically young
surface units, surface ice convection, wind streaks, volatile transport,
and glacial flow. Pluto’s atmosphere is highly extended, with trace
hydrocarbons, a global haze layer, and a surface pressure near 10
microbars. Pluto’s diverse surface geology and long-term activity
raise fundamental questions about how small planets remain active many
billions of years after formation. Pluto’s large moon Charon displays
tectonics and evidence for a heterogeneous crustal composition; its
north pole displays puzzling dark terrain. Small satellites Hydra and
Nix have higher albedos than expected.
Scanned PDF (1.8M) with supplement.
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