New Study Finds Earth Like Features On Snow And Ice On The Dwarf Planet, Pluto

A new study of the data collected by Nasa's New Horizons probe has revealed that the dwarf planet Pluto, once thought of as a cold and dead world, is actually filled with geological activity, and revealed it is home to icy ridges called 'penitentes', that had only before been found on earth, and that too only in the Andes. The research, led by John Moores of York University, Toronto, and done in collaboration with scientists at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, indicates that these icy features may also exist on other planets where environmental conditions are similar. ___

http://ift.tt/2ihFHfA ___ **Enhanced view of a heart shaped region, named Sputnik Planum, on the dwarf planet Pluto, in an undated image from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft** [[Photo Source]](http://ift.tt/2iTTh9u) ___ The interesting part about these findings has been that the identification of these ridges in Pluto's informally named "Tartarus Dorsa" area suggests that the presence of an atmosphere is necessary for the formation of penitentes, would explain why they have not previously been seen on other airless icy satellites or dwarf planets. The leader of the study, John Moores also had the following to say, > This gargantuan size is predicted by the same theory that explains the formation of these features on Earth. In fact, we were able to match the size and separation, the direction of the ridges, as well as their age: three pieces of evidence that support our identification of these ridges as penitentes. Conditions on Pluto are different from that on earth, it is much colder, the air much thinner, the sun much dimmer and the snow and ice on the surface are made from methane and nitrogen instead of water, but for the layman, the basic findings from this study proves one thing, that the same laws of nature apply throughout the universe. This study has reiterated previously held beliefs, and will aid in understanding and making sense of the other planets which are being discovered, as well as the ones already being studied. ___ http://ift.tt/2jhbVLS ___ **a new study has revealed Pluto is home to icy ridges called 'penitentes', that had only before been found on our home planet** [[Photo Source]](http://ift.tt/2iUg6Kh) ___ **Further reading on the subject** ___ 1. http://ift.tt/2ihGSvm 2. http://ift.tt/2iUg6Kh 3.http://ift.tt/2jhbP6V ___ If you like my work, please up-vote and read more at @norbu. You may also click the down-arrow next to my name (before my reputation score below) to follow me. Or you may just re-steem to share the love! 😊 ___ http://ift.tt/eA8V8J http://ift.tt/2iOkRYH

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