Pluto's Surface and Interior


This is an image of the surface of Pluto.
Click on image for full size version (17K GIF)
Image from: NASA
Data from 1999 suggests that the surface of Pluto is made of several components; it has both an icy component and another component which may be rocky. The icy component is primarily made of frozen nitrogen, but likely contains smaller amounts of frozen carbon monoxide and methane. Pluto is so far away that is it very hard to see the planet, so we can't yet tell how much of the surface is covered with ice, and how much is covered with something which is not ice (the possibly rocky component). But the surface is good at reflecting light, which suggests that it is mostly made of the icy component - and that means Pluto's surface is mostly composed of nitrogen.

The surface of Pluto shows remarkable dark markings reminiscent of Saturn's moon Iapetus. Winds of Pluto's atmosphere may contribute to sweeping the ices away from some regions and leaving dark markings, as can be seen in this image.

The interior of Pluto is probably similar to that of major icy moons such as Ganymede. (Pluto is smaller than Ganymede).

The evolution of the binary planet Pluto and Charon may be like only one other planet in the solar system, that of the Earth and its moon.

Comparison of Pluto and Earth

The Discovery of Pluto

Images of Pluto


Pluto's Surface and Interior


This is an image of the surface of Pluto.
Click on image for full size version (17K GIF)
Image from: NASA
Data from 1999 suggests that the surface of Pluto is made of two different parts. It has an icy part and a non-icy part (the non-icy part may be some sort of rock). Scientists are fairly certain the icy part is made of frozen nitrogen, but also contains smaller amounts of frozen carbon monoxide and methane.

Pluto is so far away that is it very hard to see the planet, so we can't yet tell how much of the surface is covered with ice, and how much is covered with something which is not ice (the possibly rocky part). It will take a mission to Pluto to sort some of these things out!

Scientists are certain that the surface of Pluto is good at reflecting light, which suggests that it is mostly made of the icy component - and that means Pluto's surface is mostly composed of nitrogen.

The interior of Pluto is probably similar to that of major icy moons such as Ganymede. (Pluto is actually smaller than Ganymede, even though Ganymede is a moon).

Comparison of Pluto and Earth

The Discovery of Pluto

Images of Pluto


Pluto's Surface and Interior


This is an image of the surface of Pluto.
Click on image for full size version (17K GIF)
Image from: NASA
The surface of Pluto is made of two different parts. It has an icy part and a non-icy part (the non-icy part may be some sort of rock). The icy part on Pluto though isn't ice made out of water; it's ice made out of frozen nitrogen!

Pluto is so far away that is it very hard to see the planet, so we can't tell how much of the surface is covered with ice. It will take a mission to Pluto to sort some of these things out!

The interior of Pluto may also be made of ice and rock.

Comparison of Pluto and Earth

The Discovery of Pluto

Images of Pluto



Last modified January 19, 2001 by the Windows Team

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