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The Pluto system: Initial results from its exploration by New Horizons

Science2015Vol. 350(6258), pp. aad1815–aad1815

Citations Over TimeTop 1% of 2015 papers

S. A. Stern, F. Bagenal, Kimberly Ennico, G. R. Gladstone, W. M. Grundy, W. B. McKinnon, J. M. Moore, C. B. Olkin, J. R. Spencer, H. A. Weaver, L. A. Young, T. Andert, J. Andrews, M. E. Banks, Brian Bauer, Julia Bauman, O. S. Barnouin, P. Bedini, K. Beißer, R. A. Beyer, Shyam Bhaskaran, Richard P. Binzel, Emma Birath, M. K. Bird, Denis J. Bogan, Alice Bowman, V. J. Bray, M. Brozović, A. J. Ryan, Matthew R. Buckley, M. W. Buie, B. J. Buratti, Stewart Bushman, A. Calloway, B. Carcich, A. F. Cheng, Steven J. Conard, C. A. Conrad, J. C. Cook, D. P. Cruikshank, O. S. Custodio, C. M. Dalle Ore, Christopher C. DeBoy, Zach Dischner, P. Dumont, A. M. Earle, H. A. Elliott, J. Ercol, C. M. Ernst, T. Finley, S. H. Flanigan, Glen H. Fountain, M. J. Freeze, T. K. Greathouse, J. L. Green, Yanping Guo, M. Hahn, Douglas P. Hamilton, Sarah A. Hamilton, J. Hanley, A. Harch, H. M. Hart, Chris Hersman, Adrian Hill, M. E. Hill, D. P. Hinson, Mark E. Holdridge, M. Horányi, A. D. Howard, Carly Howett, C. Jackman, Robert A. Jacobson, Donald E. Jennings, Joshua A. Kammer, H. K. Kang, D. E. Kaufmann, P. Kollmann, S. M. Krimigis, David Y. Kusnierkiewicz, Tod R. Lauer, J. E. Lee, K. L. Lindstrom, I. R. Linscott, C. M. Lisse, Allen Lunsford, V. A. Mallder, N. Martin, D. J. McComas, R. L. McNutt, Douglas S. Mehoke, Thomas Mehoke, E. D. Melin, Max Mutchler, Derek Nelson, F. Nimmo, Jorge I. Núñez, A. Ocampo, W. M. Owen, M. Päetzold, Brian R. Page, A. H. Parker, J. W. Parker, F. Pelletier, J. E. Peterson, N. Pinkine, M. Piquette, Simon B. Porter, Silvia Protopapa, J. Redfern, H. J. Reitsema, Dennis C. Reuter, J. H. Roberts, S. J. Robbins, Gabe Rogers, D. Rose, Kirby Runyon, K. D. Retherford, M. G. Ryschkewitsch, P. Schenk, Eric Schindhelm, B. Sepan, M. R. Showalter, K. N. Singer, M. Soluri, Dale Stanbridge, A. J. Steffl, D. F. Strobel, T. Stryk, M. E. Summers, J. R. Szalay, Mark B. Tapley, A. H. Taylor, H. W. Taylor, H. B. Throop, C. C. C. Tsang, G. L. Tyler, O. M. Umurhan, A. Verbiscer, M. H. Versteeg, Michael A. Vincent, R. Webbert, S. Weidner, Gerald Weigle, O. L. White, Karl Whittenburg, B. G. Williams, Kenneth E. Williams, Stephen Williams, W. W. Woods, A. M. Zangari, E. J. Zirnstein

Abstract

The Pluto system was recently explored by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, making closest approach on 14 July 2015. Pluto's surface displays diverse landforms, terrain ages, albedos, colors, and composition gradients. Evidence is found for a water-ice crust, geologically young surface units, surface ice convection, wind streaks, volatile transport, and glacial flow. Pluto's atmosphere is highly extended, with trace hydrocarbons, a global haze layer, and a surface pressure near 10 microbars. Pluto's diverse surface geology and long-term activity raise fundamental questions about how small planets remain active many billions of years after formation. Pluto's large moon Charon displays tectonics and evidence for a heterogeneous crustal composition; its north pole displays puzzling dark terrain. Small satellites Hydra and Nix have higher albedos than expected.

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