Hubble Space Telescope Provides Detailed Images Of Pluto
February 8th, 2010 - 8:44 pm ICT by GDBy Gina Gomez
Feb 8, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The planet Pluto undergoes a drastic change of color, according to the images taken from the Hubble Space Telescope. The pictures show changes in the brightness of color of Pluto’s surface. The researchers found out that in a period of 2-years, from 2000 to 2002, the dramatic change took place.
NASA has released “the most detailed and dramatic images” which provides a view of the “distant dwarf planet Pluto,” which is captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. NASA reports that the change in color of Pluto might be the result of ultraviolet radiation from the distant “sun breaking methane that is present on Pluto’s surface.” It reportedly leaves behind a dark and red carbon-rich residue.
When the photos taken in 2002 and 2003 were compared to Hubble images taken in 1994, a significant color change is noticed revealing “seasonal changes.” NASA explained that Pluto has turned redder while the northern hemisphere is getting brighter. These changes are probably the outcome of surface ices sublimating on the “sunlit pole” and then “re-freezing on the other pole.” The researchers were surprised at the drastic change that took place in Pluto. Mike Brown, a professor from the California Institute of Technology, said Pluto had the most dynamic surface of any other object in the Solar System. While watching the images of Pluto he said, we are used to watching moon every night, what will happen if we see a drastic change in its color. He said the surfaces of the Earth and Mars has noticeable changes as ice caps come and go in these two planets.
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Tags: california institute of technology, distant sun, dramatic change, dramatic images, drastic change, dwarf planet pluto, dynamic surface, gina gomez, hubble images, hubble space telescope, images of pluto, institute of technology, methane, nasa, nasa reports, northern hemisphere, noticeable changes, seasonal changes, solar system, ultraviolet radiation
