Sputnik Planum vs. Krun Macula
Explanation:
Pluto's pitted
plains meet rugged highlands in this stunning view.
On the left lies a southeastern extent of the bright region still
informally known as
Sputnik
Planum.
At right the edge of a dark region, informally Krun Macula,
rises some 2.5 kilometers above the icy plains.
Along the boundary, connected clusters of large pits form deep valleys,
some over 40 kilometers long
with shadowy floors.
Nitrogen ice is likely responsible for the more reflective plains.
The dark
red color
of the highlands is thought to be from complex
compounds called tholins, a product of ultraviolet light induced chemical
reactions with methane in
Pluto's atmosphere.
The enhanced color image includes portions of the
highest and second
highest
resolution image data from the New Horizons July 2015 flyby of
the distant world.
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.
