Northern Pluto
Explanation:
Gaze across the frozen
canyons of northern Pluto in this
contrast enhanced color scene, imaged last July by the
New Horizons spacecraft.
Currently known as Lowell Regio, the region has been informally
named for Percival Lowell, founder of the Lowell Observatory.
Also famous for his speculation that there were canals on Mars,
in 1906 Lowell started the search that ultimately
led to Pluto's
discovery.
Pluto's
North Pole itself
is above and left of center in the the frame.
The pale bluish floor of the broad canyon on the left is about 70
kilometers (45 miles) wide, running vertically toward the south.
Higher elevations take on a yellowish hue.
New Horizon's measurements have
determined that in addition to
nitrogen ice, methane ice is abundant across northern
Pluto's Lowell Regio.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
