Question

The Hubble Space Telescope images of Pluto in 2002 showed a bright spot and some darker areas around it. Now that we have the close-up New Horizons images, what did the large bright region on Pluto turn out to be?

Answer 1

The bright region on Pluto is called the Sputnik Planitia, a large ice-filled basin without craters, suggesting a young and geologically active surface.

Step-by-step explanation:

The large bright region on Pluto, observed by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2002, was further investigated by the New Horizons spacecraft when it flew by the dwarf planet in July 2015. This region turned out to be a huge ice-filled basin, now known as the Sputnik Planitia, named after humanity's first artificial satellite, Sputnik.

This substantial light area, situated in the center and lower right of images from New Horizons, is characterized as a flat, depression filled with nitrogen and carbon monoxide ice. The area displays a pattern of cells or polygons, indicating slow convection within the ice.

The absence of impact craters in this region points to a geologically young surface, estimated to be no more than 10 million years old, and showcases Pluto's active geological processes.

Answer 2

The large bright region on Pluto, observed by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2002, was revealed by the New Horizons mission to be the Sputnik Plain, a young and smooth ice-filled depression that indicates recent geological activity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Hubble Space Telescope images of Pluto in 2002 hinted at a world with varied terrain, including a notable bright spot. With the close-up New Horizons images obtained during its flyby in July 2015, this large bright region has been identified as a geologically young area on Pluto's surface known as the Sputnik Plain (also known as Sputnik Planitia).

This expansive area is a large, smooth, and nearly craterless ice-filled depression, suggesting recent geological activity. The plain is filled predominantly with nitrogen and carbon monoxide ices.

The lack of craters implies a relatively young surface, estimated to be no more than 10 million years old. Surrounding areas show a contrasting appearance with dark regions that appear to be significantly older and covered in impact craters.