2007-07-07 13:47:04 · 6 answers · asked by tracyterry 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
They don't know for sure as they don't have good close-up images. But in 2015 the New Horizons spacecraft will arrive at Pluto and we should see some great images.
But it doesn't appear to have any significant atmosphere, so it could either be an ice world (similar to Jupiter's moon Europa) or it could be bare rock like Mars or our moon.
2007-07-07 14:00:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Until we get a look through the New Horizons probe in 2015, we'll have to use educated guesses and fuzzy Hubble images.
We know from Hubble images that Pluto has polar caps like earth (likely of methane or nitrogen). Pluto has a pink complexion, indicating hydrocarbon compounds on its surface like Saturn's moon, Titan.
The closest possible look alike for Pluto may be Neptune's moon Triton. A captured Kuiper belt object, Triton has similar temperature, composition, and mass to Pluto.
2007-07-07 15:36:50 · answer #2 · answered by swilliamrex 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be honest, we aren't entirely sure. There are good educated guesses and artist's renderings but as for an actual photo, not so much. Pluto is so far away and our probes are only so good. If you go to wiki's Pluto site you will see the best picture we have.
Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet instead of a regular one.
2007-07-07 13:53:35 · answer #3 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto: Planet Profile
Mass (kg) 1.29 x 1022
Diameter (km) 2300
Mean density (kg/m3) 2030
Escape velocity (m/s) 1100
Average distance from Sun 39.48 AU (5,906,376,200 km)
Rotation period (length of day in Earth days) 6.39 (retrograde)
Revolution period (length of year in Earth years) 247.92
Obliquity (tilt of axis degrees) 122.5
Orbit inclination (degrees) 17.15
Orbit eccentricity (deviation from circular) 0.248
Mean temperature (K) 37
Visual geometric albedo (reflectivity) about 0.5
NOTE ---> Atmospheric components perhaps methane and nitrogen
NOTE ---> Surface materials perhaps methane ice
2007-07-07 17:15:05 · answer #4 · answered by Michael N 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will let you know in 2015
It is so far away that we can not get good pictures, even with the most powerful telescope.
There is a spaceship on the way there now to take pictures.
It will get there in eight years.
2007-07-07 14:02:32 · answer #5 · answered by michael971 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v418/n6894/images/418135a-f1.2.jpg
2007-07-07 13:53:08 · answer #6 · answered by Soccermaster 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋