News in Brief Planetary Science

Latest dispatch from Pluto reveals frozen plains, icy hills and more

New images give shape to moon Nix and hint at dwarf planet’s geology

close-up of Pluto's surface

PLUTO’S PLAINS  A craterless plain etched by a network of shallow troughs lies within Pluto’s “heart,” as seen in this image taken July 14 when New Horizons was 77,000 kilometers from the dwarf planet. 

NASA, JHUAPL, SWRI

By Christopher Crockett

- More than 2 years ago

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Frozen plains, etched with a network of polygons bordered by shallow troughs, stretch away from Pluto’s icy mountains and through Pluto’s “heart.”