Morgan Dynamic Research is following the progress of NASA’s New Horizons Mission To Pluto and Beyond
Here we will post our enhanced versions of NASA images. Images have been enhanced for surface feature detail analysis.
Original images by: NASA-JHUAPL-SwRI
Image enhancement by Morgan Dynamic Research.
Click on an image to enlarge it.
______________________________
Charon Surface Detail 4 and More Pluto
______________________________
Capture Distance: ~7,750-11,000 est miles (Unspecified)
Updated: 10/15/2015
______________________________
Pluto Surface and Atmospheric Detail
______________________________
Capture Distance: 11,000 miles
Updated: 9/24/2015
______________________________
Pluto Surface Detail 5
______________________________
Capture Distance: 50,000 miles
Updated: 9/24/2015
______________________________
Nix and Hydra
______________________________
Capture Distance: (Nix, Left): ~102,000 miles – (Hydra, Right): ~143,000 miles
Updated: 7/22/2015
______________________________
Pluto Surface Detail 4
______________________________
Capture Distance:48,000 miles
Updated: 7/22/2015
______________________________
Pluto Detail Enhancements
______________________________
The images on the left and right have been been retreated by a more aggressive algorithm.
The middle image is a false color surface feature extraction map.
Updated: 7/16/2015
______________________________
Charon Detail Enhancements
______________________________
The image on the left has been been retreated by a more aggressive algorithm.
The image on the right is a false color surface feature extraction map.
Updated: 7/16/2015
______________________________
Charon Surface Detail 3
______________________________
Capture Distance:49,000 miles
Updated: 7/16/2015
______________________________
Pluto Surface Detail 3
______________________________
Capture Distance: 47,800 miles
Updated: 7/15/2015
______________________________
Charon Surface Detail 2
______________________________
Capture Distance: 289,000 miles
Updated: 7/15/2015
______________________________
Pluto Surface Detail 2
______________________________
Capture Distance: ~1,600,000 miles
Analysis: The dark equatorial regions on Pluto comprise a band in-line with the orbit of Charon. Given the somewhat accepted binary status of the Pluto/Charon system, we speculate that the band is likely subsurface material exposed due to surface disruption, possibly from gravitational tidal heating and subsequent sublimation of theoretical subsurface ice. That matter may have been expelled, or otherwise transferred, to Charon and be responsible for Charon’s relatively dark appearance. There is the potential also that matter was transferred from Charon to Pluto, though the visual evidence does not seem to support that at this time. Updates to follow.
Updated: 7/13/2015
______________________________
Charon Surface Detail 1
______________________________
Capture Distance: ~1,600,000 miles
Updated: 7/13/2015
______________________________
Pluto and Charon 2
______________________________
Updated: 7/13/2015
______________________________
Pluto Surface Detail 1
______________________________
Capture Distance: ~2,500,000 miles and ~3,300,000 miles
Here comes the detail…and a lot to see.
Updated: 7/11/2015
______________________________
Pluto and Charon 1
______________________________
Capture Distance: ~3,700,000 miles
Morgan Dynamic Research is proud to be able to bring you enhanced images from yet another planet(-oid) in our solar system. We have all been waiting a long time for the first clear views of Pluto and Charon. Our enhancement team has noted that they were able to substantially increase the clarity of this image.
Analysis: Though the system appears to be a planetary binary system, Charon is substantially different in apparent coloration and albedo then Pluto, which brings forward the possibility that Charon is a captured object. If this is the case, then we must speculate as to why it is also spherical in shape.
Updated: 7/10/2015
______________________________