NASA reveals interesting facts about water ice on Pluto
Q. NASA has made which important discovery regarding Pluto through the New Horizons probe?- Published on 10 Oct 15a. A blue haze surrounds Pluto
b. Pluto has patches of water ice
c. Both of the above
d. None of the above
ANSWER: Both of the above
NASA has released first colour pictures of haze surrounding Pluto alone with water ice patches on the dwarf planet collected by the New Horizons probe. The picture shows the haze to be bright blue. The water ice was found in a composite image from New Horizons' Ralph instrument, combining visible imagery from the Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC) with infrared spectroscopy from the Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array. The tint reveals the size and composition of the haze particles apart from scattering of sunlight by small particles. Scattering of light in the red planet is through soot particles scientists refer to as tholins. Bits of ice correlate with red patches on the surface of the planet. Water appears in patches and scientists are now preparing to find out more about their formation and appearance.
