Amazing Photo of the Day: The Icy Mountains of Pluto

“One of the youngest surfaces we’ve ever seen in the solar system”
Science • Views: 71,960

Here it is, folks: the first high resolution close-up image of the surface of Pluto from the New Horizon spacecraft: The Icy Mountains of Pluto.

New close-up images of a region near Pluto’s equator reveal a giant surprise: a range of youthful mountains rising as high as 11,000 feet (3,500 meters) above the surface of the icy body.

The mountains likely formed no more than 100 million years ago — mere youngsters relative to the 4.56-billion-year age of the solar system — and may still be in the process of building, says Jeff Moore of New Horizons’ Geology, Geophysics and Imaging Team (GGI). That suggests the close-up region, which covers less than one percent of Pluto’s surface, may still be geologically active today.

Moore and his colleagues base the youthful age estimate on the lack of craters in this scene. Like the rest of Pluto, this region would presumably have been pummeled by space debris for billions of years and would have once been heavily cratered — unless recent activity had given the region a facelift, erasing those pockmarks.

“This is one of the youngest surfaces we’ve ever seen in the solar system,” says Moore.

A NASA video shows where this section of Pluto is located:

YouTube

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79 comments
1
Kragar  Jul 15, 2015 • 12:49:05pm

Less than 5000 years old…

2
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2015 • 12:52:08pm

Oh, and by the way…

3
freetoken  Jul 15, 2015 • 12:54:46pm

re: #2 Charles Johnson

Too bad my freebie Prime-trial ended last week.

4
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2015 • 12:56:05pm

Pluto doesn’t have one of these:

5
dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸  Jul 15, 2015 • 12:58:03pm

The Icy Mountains

prime vacation real estate

some commuting required

conveniently close to oort cloud

6
De Kolta Chair  Jul 15, 2015 • 12:59:29pm

re: #1 Kragar

Less than 5000 years old…

Just like Earth!

7
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:01:30pm

re: #2 Charles Johnson

Apparently Sauron is over on Pluto’s moon Charon, right next to Mordor. /half joking - the dark spot on the upper portion of the moon is actually named Mordor.

8
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:02:13pm

re: #5 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

The Icy Mountains

prime vacation real estate

some commuting required

conveniently close to oort cloud

COMET ME, BRO!
//

9
Great White Snark  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:02:45pm

re: #5 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

The Icy Mountains

prime vacation real estate

some commuting required

conveniently close to oort cloud

Free unlimited cold storage.

10
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:02:52pm

re: #7 lawhawk

Apparently Sauron is over on Pluto’s moon Charon, right next to Mordor. /half joking - the dark spot on the upper portion of the moon is actually named Mordor.

Son of a bitch. I guess one really DOESN’T just walk into Mordor.

11
A Cranky One  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:04:41pm

Note that Pluto’s moon, Charon, does show impact craters.

12
De Kolta Chair  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:04:57pm

re: #7 lawhawk

Apparently Sauron is over on Pluto’s moon Charon, right next to Mordor. /half joking - the dark spot on the upper portion of the moon is actually named Mordor.

I look forward to climbing Mount Uhura some day. I hear that’s one of New Horizon’s suggested place names.

13
Kragar  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:05:03pm
14
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:07:18pm

re: #13 Kragar

There’s a feature near the heart on Pluto that scientists are informally calling Cthulhu. Another feature is called Krun.

15
Targetpractice  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:07:52pm

re: #11 A Cranky One

Note that Pluto’s moon, Charon, does show impact craters.

[Embedded content]

That doesn’t look like a mass relay!

//

16
Great White Snark  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:10:23pm

re: #2 Charles Johnson

Oh, and by the way…

[Embedded content]

What caught my eye was the 60’ UHD TV for $999.
UHD under a grand at that size? Wow.

17
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:12:18pm
18
De Kolta Chair  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:12:27pm

Speaking of moons, Jupiter’s are named for Zeus’ lovers, including Ganymede, who is a dude.

Do the Xtian fundamentalists know about this and will the next Republican president blow it up real good?

19
Kragar  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:14:16pm
20
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:19:52pm

re: #5 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

The Icy Mountains

prime vacation real estate

some commuting required

conveniently close to oort cloud

Far over the icy mountains cold…

21
The Mountain That Blogs  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:22:29pm

to paraphrase xkcd, man, rocket scientists are really good at rocket science.

22
Kragar  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:26:11pm
23
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:27:03pm
24
Eventual Carrion  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:28:03pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Just a major league asshole, as Bush would put it.

25
FemNaziBitch  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:29:32pm

Earring Jackets

And not a bad price if they are authentic.

No, I’m not buying them. I just thought they were humorous

26
freetoken  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:34:09pm

Shocked?

Iowa church touting Creationism a big draw for some White House hopefuls

A little Iowa church that preaches the theory that the Bible’s book of Genesis could be a scientifically accurate account of the beginning of the world has become a magnet for religious conservative presidential candidates.

Republicans Ben Carson and Mike Huckabee have already visited the First Assembly of God Church in Indianola. Bobby Jindal is booked to be at the church Saturday.

In 2014, the church hosted a five-day conference that discussed how Noah’s Biblical flood could explain the supposed misconception that the earth is older than 6,000 years.

The Rev. Jordan Cleigh, who works for the church, told the Des Moines Register at the time: “For the past 50 to 60 years public schools have been teaching evolution even though evolution doesn’t have all of the answers either. (Creationism) lets people believe in the Bible and Jesus.”

[…]

27
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:37:14pm
28
De Kolta Chair  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:38:05pm

Free Memes For Righties #1

If Obama had been president in 1969:

///
29
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:38:15pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson @Green_Footballs

True fact: Major Garret is not an actual Major.

4:24 PM - 15 Jul 2015

Well, he is certainly a major something…and we all know what that is.

30
Jack Burton  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:39:31pm

re: #29 ObserverArt

Well, he is certainly a major something…and we all know what that is.

“I knew it, I’m surrounded by assholes! KEEP FIRING ASSHOLES!”

31
Kragar  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:39:51pm
32
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:40:57pm

Usually people who do this have a personal mechanic to clean their bike afterwards. This guy IS a mechanic, and has ridden his bike every day for 22 years.

33
William Lewis  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:41:41pm

I don’t know if this was shared here yet but this is a great poem reading (a Ray Bradbury poem read by him for a Mars mission in 1971) from NPR in a tribute to New Horizons.

34
makeitstop  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:42:54pm

Important update from Counter Jade Helm…

I went through all the states, got the same results.

The Northern Hordes must be using really good camouflage.

35
Decatur Deb  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:44:34pm

re: #17 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

36
A Cranky One  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:51:41pm

re: #35 Decatur Deb

Can we do the GOP debate this way? Pretty please?

37
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:53:06pm
38
Lidane  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:57:47pm

re: #36 A Cranky One

Can we do the GOP debate this way? Pretty please?

Especially now that Trump has filed with the FEC:

I wonder how drunk Reince is going to be during the debates.

39
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 15, 2015 • 1:59:24pm

re: #38 Lidane

Because flaunting your wealth is an awesome way of winning over the middle class!

40
Decatur Deb  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:01:15pm

re: #39 Eclectic Cyborg

Because flaunting your wealth is an awesome way of winning over the middle class!

There is a correct way to do that. It usually involves building a cancer hospital.

41
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:02:13pm

re: #38 Lidane

Especially now that Trump has filed with the FEC:

[Embedded content]

I wonder how drunk Reince is going to be during the debates.

Reince will need something a lot stronger than booze to cope with Trumpzilla at the GOP debates.

Personally, I’m hoping that Trump includes blatant dick-waving about his net worth in the GOP debates. Watching the GOP base fawn all over Trump for such a primitive display would be very entertaining, especially in combination with futile damage control attempts by GOP talking heads.

42
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:03:23pm

re: #17 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

I suspect that was more aspirational than real. I would not want to be the guy trying to load the cats into it the SECOND time!

43
Kragar  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:04:17pm
44
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:12:33pm

re: #38 Lidane

Especially now that Trump has filed with the FEC:

I wonder how drunk Reince is going to be during the debates.

After the filing the Trump campaign released a statement bemoaning the fact that the FEC’s forms were “not designed for a man of Mr. Trump’s massive wealth.”

The Donald gives great humble, doesn’t he?

45
Targetpractice  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:12:40pm

re: #43 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Wait, so does that mean there’s an older Trump out there, bankrolling his past self’s presidential campaign through time travel?

46
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:14:21pm

re: #44 TedStriker

The Donald gives great humble, doesn’t he?

Just like a kid complaining that XXL condoms are too tight.

47
SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:15:40pm

re: #46 EPR-radar

A Hefty bag and a rubber band//

48
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:18:33pm

I don’t care for the headline, but the article is good.

49
The Vicious Babushka  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:21:12pm

re: #38 Lidane

Especially now that Trump has filed with the FEC:

[Embedded content]

I wonder how drunk Reince is going to be during the debates.

I always wondered why Trump has white circles around his eyes, like raccoon eyes in negative.

Then I realized it’s from the goggles he wears in the tanning booth.

50
dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:22:09pm

re: #38 Lidane

a man of Mr. Trump’s massive

many nouns are appropriate here

51
Kragar  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:24:10pm
52
The Vicious Babushka  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:25:38pm

re: #50 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

many nouns are appropriate here

Proving that no amount of money can buy class.

53
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:26:00pm

re: #45 Targetpractice

Wait, so does that mean there’s an older Trump out there, bankrolling his past self’s presidential campaign through time travel?

Now there’s a supervillain idea if I ever heard one!

54
Jenner7  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:26:56pm
55
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:27:48pm

Regarding the Iranian Nuclear Deal.

Isn’t a good deal one that has everyone pissed off?

The Saudi Arabians are unhappy. The Republicans and some Democrats (Schumer and Durban, others) are unhappy. FOX News and RWNJs are unhappy. I bet the guys on Duck Dynasty and the Duggars are unhappy.

And, Sarah Palin is trying to figure out how to use Google to find where Iran is located…and she is unhappy and originally thought everyone was talking about her because “I ran!”

George Bidault, a member of the French Resistance and later a French foreign minister and prime minister once said that that a good diplomatic agreement was one with which all parties were equally dissatisfied.

56
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:28:17pm

re: #49 The Vicious Babushka

I always wondered why Trump has white circles around his eyes, like raccoon eyes in negative.

Then I realized it’s from the goggles he wears in the tanning booth.

Also, in The Donald’s latest quest to make friends and influence people, Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has tweeted back to him, either personally or through an intermediary, after the latter’s escape from prison the other day:

Chapo, who heads the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, escaped from prison on Saturday night on the back of a motorcycle. It is unknown whether Chapo has already managed to reach a computer since the breakout, but his Twitter account, which was managed by his son following his incarceration, has released numerous tweets, taunting the Mexican government while also making direct threats towards Trump.

Sigue chingando y voy hacer que te tragues todas tus putas palabras pinche guero cagaleche @realDonaldTrump
— Joaquín Guzmán Loera (@ElChap0Guzman) July 12, 2015

A rough translation reportedly indicates that the threat reads, “keep f***ing around and I’m gonna make you swallow your bitch words you f*cking whitey milksh*tter (a Mexican homophobic slur ).”

La vida da muchas vueltas, un día estamos en el hoyo y otro día estamos arriba.
— Joaquín Guzmán Loera (@ElChap0Guzman) July 12, 2015

This tweet translates to a remark on Chapo’s situation, saying “life takes many turns, one day we are in the hole and another day are up.”

Trump said that he still won’t back down on his controversial statements, but reports have indicated that the celebrity plutocrat has contacted the FBI in response to Chapo’s threat. “I’m fighting for much more than myself,” Trump said. “I’m fighting for the future of our country which is being overrun by criminals.”

mediaite.com

57
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:28:31pm

re: #44 TedStriker

The Donald gives great humble, doesn’t he?

Nobody does it better!

Just ask him.

58
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:29:19pm

re: #54 Jenner7

one of the men behind #PlannedParenthood video argued abortion doctors deserve to be killed t.co pic.twitter.com

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) July 15, 2015

Surprise, surprise, surprise…

59
Targetpractice  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:30:17pm

re: #55 ObserverArt

Regarding the Iranian Nuclear Deal.

Isn’t a good deal one that has everyone pissed off?

The Saudi Arabians are unhappy. The Republicans and some Democrats (Schumer and Durban, others) are unhappy. FOX News and RWNJs are unhappy. I bet the guys on Duck Dynasty and the Duggars are unhappy.

And, Sarah Palin is trying to figure out how to use Google to find where Iran is located…and she is unhappy and originally thought everyone was talking about her because “I ran!”

George Bidault, a member of the French Resistance and later a French foreign minister and prime minister once said that that a good diplomatic agreement was one with which all parties were equally dissatisfied.

I was just telling a wingnut who’s nattering on about how Iran is gonna rush to build a nuke and then use it on Israel that things are pretty simple: If you honestly believe that Iran is so crazy that it will nuke Israel, knowing that the nuclear response it will receive will make Hiroshima and Nagasaki look like party poppers, then you believe Iran is too crazy to take any deal it makes seriously and we should be talking about going to war.

60
The Vicious Babushka  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:32:23pm

STUPIDEST MEME OF THE DAY==>
I checked the timeline but I can’t tell if this is a parody account.
Its Tweets are 100% Derp but this is the norm for #tcot

61
SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:34:21pm

re: #60 The Vicious Babushka

STUPIDEST MEME OF THE DAY==>
I checked the timeline but I can’t tell if this is a parody account.
Its Tweets are 100% Derp but this is the norm for #tcot

[Embedded content]

I have to tell you I’d rather have the armor and the sword.

62
Targetpractice  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:34:40pm

re: #60 The Vicious Babushka

STUPIDEST MEME OF THE DAY==>
I checked the timeline but I can’t tell if this is a parody account.
Its Tweets are 100% Derp but this is the norm for #tcot

[Embedded content]

Oh yeah, I just love how chain mail breathes on my skin. And I’m always saying to my friends how hard it is to find a kite shield in my size.

////

63
Kragar  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:34:54pm
64
Timothy Watson  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:35:27pm

re: #60 The Vicious Babushka

STUPIDEST MEME OF THE DAY==>
I checked the timeline but I can’t tell if this is a parody account.
Its Tweets are 100% Derp but this is the norm for #tcot

[Embedded content]

Where’s Altair at when you need him?

65
Eric The Fruit Bat  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:37:08pm

Well, Gov. Abbot? You own this now.

66
Decatur Deb  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:38:57pm

re: #60 The Vicious Babushka

STUPIDEST MEME OF THE DAY==>
I checked the timeline but I can’t tell if this is a parody account.
Its Tweets are 100% Derp but this is the norm for #tcot

[Embedded content]

“Deus vult”. Where have I heard that before?

67
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:40:34pm

re: #66 Decatur Deb

“Deus vult”. Where have I heard that before?

en.wikipedia.org

Deus vult (Latin for “God wills it”) was the cry of the people at the declaration of the First Crusade by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in 1095.[1] The phrase appears variously as Deus vult (Classical Latin), Dieu le veut (French), Deus lo vult, etc.

68
jaunte  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:40:57pm

re: #60 The Vicious Babushka

Perfect tcot swimwear.

69
Targetpractice  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:41:16pm

Besides, there’s a reason you don’t see men walking around in chain mail or plate armor anymore. They’re called guns.

70
Timothy Watson  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:42:33pm

re: #60 The Vicious Babushka

STUPIDEST MEME OF THE DAY==>
I checked the timeline but I can’t tell if this is a parody account.
Its Tweets are 100% Derp but this is the norm for #tcot

[Embedded content]

Altair is not amused:

71
Decatur Deb  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:42:36pm

re: #67 TedStriker

en.wikipedia.org

Yeah. It was the basic crusader battlecry, but I think it also shows up in Breivik’s Templar fantasy.

72
FemNaziBitch  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:45:18pm
73
Decatur Deb  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:50:28pm

re: #71 Decatur Deb

Yeah. It was the basic crusader battlecry, but I think it also shows up in Breivik’s Templar fantasy.

My German is very poor, but I think it’s in here:

zeit.de

74
Decatur Deb  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:54:01pm

If you scan the Google News screen, it looks like the stupid Cosby question has derailed the Prez’ Iran agreement presser.

news.google.com

75
Lidane  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:54:51pm

re: #74 Decatur Deb

If you scan the Google News screen, it looks like the stupid Cosby question has derailed the Prez’ Iran agreement presser.

news.google.com

Of course it has. Because our media sucks.

76
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2015 • 2:56:56pm

re: #62 Targetpractice

Oh yeah, I just love how chain mail breathes on my skin. And I’m always saying to my friends how hard it is to find a kite shield in my size.

////

I know. If you get one too small it makes your butt look big.

And Gold Bond powder cuts down on that chain mail itch. A good knight knows these things.

: )

77
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2015 • 3:03:30pm

re: #69 Targetpractice

Besides, there’s a reason you don’t see men walking around in chain mail or plate armor anymore. They’re called guns.

Hell, even arrows.

78
thedopefishlives  Jul 15, 2015 • 3:11:03pm

re: #77 Blind Frog Belly White

Hell, even arrows.

Just ask the French at Agincourt how easily a properly tipped arrow can work on metal armor.

79
Eric The Fruit Bat  Jul 15, 2015 • 3:28:07pm

Let the howler monkeys fly. Won’t bother me none.


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