What We Know About Pluto | Mission Pluto

we should at last see what Pluto really

we should at last see what Pluto really looks like

looks like

looks like but until 10 weeks ago we had no idea

but until 10 weeks ago we had no idea

but until 10 weeks ago we had no idea even with the world’s finest space

even with the world’s finest space

even with the world’s finest space telescope Hubble I’m gonna show you the

telescope Hubble I’m gonna show you the

telescope Hubble I’m gonna show you the best images that we have of Pluto now

best images that we have of Pluto now

best images that we have of Pluto now can you bring that up for a second and

can you bring that up for a second and

can you bring that up for a second and here you see the best images we’ve ever

here you see the best images we’ve ever

here you see the best images we’ve ever done of Pluto just a pixelated mess

that’s it

that’s it from Hubble it was powerful telescope we

from Hubble it was powerful telescope we

from Hubble it was powerful telescope we have you would love to see a more

have you would love to see a more

have you would love to see a more detailed picture all of us would but the

detailed picture all of us would but the

detailed picture all of us would but the problem is putto is just so far away

but even in this fuzzy blob there are

but even in this fuzzy blob there are tantalizing clues if you look hard

tantalizing clues if you look hard

tantalizing clues if you look hard enough

analyzing it in different wavelengths of

analyzing it in different wavelengths of light reveals traces of nitrogen methane

light reveals traces of nitrogen methane

light reveals traces of nitrogen methane and carbon monoxide and because Pluto is

and carbon monoxide and because Pluto is

and carbon monoxide and because Pluto is so far from the Sun it has to be one of

so far from the Sun it has to be one of

so far from the Sun it has to be one of the most frigid places in the solar

the most frigid places in the solar

the most frigid places in the solar system

and Pluto it’s about negative 390

and Pluto it’s about negative 390 degrees Fahrenheit

gases on earth would freeze solid on

gases on earth would freeze solid on Pluto planetary scientist cathy olkin

Pluto planetary scientist cathy olkin

Pluto planetary scientist cathy olkin imagines what it would be like to stand

imagines what it would be like to stand

imagines what it would be like to stand on Pluto if we were walking on Pluto you

on Pluto if we were walking on Pluto you

on Pluto if we were walking on Pluto you would see rocks and ice but the ice

would see rocks and ice but the ice

would see rocks and ice but the ice would be very different it’s not water

would be very different it’s not water

would be very different it’s not water ice like we see here

ice like we see here

ice like we see here it’s nitrogen ice and carbon monoxide

it’s nitrogen ice and carbon monoxide

it’s nitrogen ice and carbon monoxide ice and methane ice but scientists also

ice and methane ice but scientists also

ice and methane ice but scientists also think that where the weak Sun hits the

think that where the weak Sun hits the

think that where the weak Sun hits the surface of Pluto some of the ice could

surface of Pluto some of the ice could

surface of Pluto some of the ice could get heated turning directly into gas

Pluto could be a mountainous world of

Pluto could be a mountainous world of exotic ice and primordial rock gases

exotic ice and primordial rock gases

exotic ice and primordial rock gases spewing out of its surface it may look

spewing out of its surface it may look

spewing out of its surface it may look similar to how liquid nitrogen

similar to how liquid nitrogen

similar to how liquid nitrogen evaporates here on Pluto

evaporates here on Pluto

evaporates here on Pluto I think the sunlight warms the nice and

I think the sunlight warms the nice and

I think the sunlight warms the nice and that ice goes up into the atmosphere

that ice goes up into the atmosphere

that ice goes up into the atmosphere it’s transported by winds to places on

it’s transported by winds to places on

it’s transported by winds to places on Pluto where it’s colder and there it

Pluto where it’s colder and there it

Pluto where it’s colder and there it will condense perhaps even flat forming

will condense perhaps even flat forming

will condense perhaps even flat forming clouds and then you could be seeing snow

clouds and then you could be seeing snow

clouds and then you could be seeing snow or frost falling and condensing onto the

or frost falling and condensing onto the

or frost falling and condensing onto the surface

surface

surface [Music]

[Music]

[Music] so we believe that Pluto has weather

Hubble also reveals that Pluto has moons

Hubble also reveals that Pluto has moons its largest named Sharon is half Pluto’s

its largest named Sharon is half Pluto’s

its largest named Sharon is half Pluto’s size they both dance around each other

size they both dance around each other

size they both dance around each other unlike any other planetary body in the

unlike any other planetary body in the

unlike any other planetary body in the solar system understanding this might

solar system understanding this might

solar system understanding this might reveal how Pluto was formed and that

reveal how Pluto was formed and that

reveal how Pluto was formed and that could tell us how the earth was formed

could tell us how the earth was formed

could tell us how the earth was formed which is what led to you and me we’ve

which is what led to you and me we’ve

which is what led to you and me we’ve got a real mystery on our hands with

got a real mystery on our hands with

got a real mystery on our hands with this planet moon system you have to

this planet moon system you have to

this planet moon system you have to wonder how did it get there Pluto is a

wonder how did it get there Pluto is a

wonder how did it get there Pluto is a very primordial object it’s been out in

very primordial object it’s been out in

very primordial object it’s been out in a deep freeze you can think of it as a

a deep freeze you can think of it as a

a deep freeze you can think of it as a storage area your attic of some of the

storage area your attic of some of the

storage area your attic of some of the building blocks of our solar system

Pluto’s essentially a gold mine for

Pluto’s essentially a gold mine for teaching us about the formation of even

teaching us about the formation of even

teaching us about the formation of even larger planets like the earth