New images of Pluto puzzle scientists

Dunes or something else?

New Horizons captured several mysterious formations on the surface of Pluto, as shown in photos released by NASA on Thursday. Scientists continue their research and debate whether the recent photographs show dunes or something else. As it is only the first flyby of the dwarf planet, they say mysterious and puzzling things are expected to be observed.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The New York Times reported that NASA has released a new batch of pictures from the flyby, adding to recent data from the remote, icy dwarf planet. Images show what appear to be dunes but S. Alan Stern -the principal investigator for NASA's New Horizons spacecraft- and colleagues are still debating their origin.

D. Stern explained, "We have detected vast fields of features that look like dunes ... Now we are being careful to say they look like dunes. They may or may not actually be dunes ... Their origin is under debate."

For dunes to form, it would require wind to pile up particles into undulating ridges, which is impossible with the Pluto's current atmosphere. If they are determined to be dunes, it would indicate Pluto might have had a thicker atmosphere once or that the dune-like formations arose due to a force other than wind. 

Scientists continue to research whether the structures are made of sand-like bits of rock, ice or something else. In the photos, some appear to be reflecting light and some appear to be darker.

"The dunes may all be identical in composition, but some may have a veneer of dark stuff on them. Or they may be different. We just don't know," Stern admitted.

Incoming photos from New Horizons have presented several puzzles for NASA scientists.
Dr. Stern believes liquid nitrogen could exist below Pluto's surface, which could have caused mountains to collapse and form what recent photos depict to be "a very disorganized region hundreds of miles across where the mountains appear to be chaotically jumbled."

Scientists at NASA have observed several photos that will continue to be sent by New Horizons throughout the next year.  NASA will be releasing weekly batches of photos on their website.

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