As part of the data recently received by NASA from New Horizons are images showing two mountains on Pluto that look a lot like ice volcanoes.
As part of the data recently received by NASA from New Horizons are images showing two mountains on Pluto that look a lot like ice volcanoes. The mission’s team is not ready to confirm whether they are or not, but do describe the elevations having apparent holes on their tops. While volcanoes as we know them here on Earth spit out fiery substances, should there be any volatile mountains on Pluto, they are apt to eject soft-frozen water containing gasses. Further study is needed to say with certainty if the mountains perform such tricks. Evidence either way may be forthcoming, as about 80% of the knowledge New Horizons is holding has yet to be transmitted. Thus far scientists do know the two features are located in the dwarf planet’s south polar region and are quite large. One extends upwards between 2 and 3 miles while the other is estimated to be about 3.7 miles high. Ice volcanoes are known to exist elsewhere in the solar system, including on Neptune’s moon Triton.
