Pluto — a Complex and Changing World

astroengine writes "After 4 years of processing the highest resolution photographs the Hubble Space Telescope could muster, we now have the highest resolution view of Pluto's surface ever produced. Most excitingly, these new observations show an active world with seasonal changes altering the dwarf planet's surface. It turns out that this far-flung world has more in common with Earth than we would have ever imagined."

Pluto = Asteroid WIth Attitude and Ego!

[loose electron]

the amateur astronomer understands that Pluto is noting more than an asteroid with a big ego

The attitude gets even bigger when its closer to the sun than Neptune.....

How would you like to be demoted?

Re:High res?

[pushing-robot]

Is it just me, or do the photos look like a big blob of yellows and grays?

Based on my experience, all planets look like that from space. And on the surface they all look like southern California.

Re:Pluto having seasonal changes is well known

[Tumbleweed]

the fact that Pluto undergoes significant seasonal cycles has been known for quite a while.

Yeah, don't mess with Pluto. She's been in a bad mood for awhile now. Must be that time of the orbit.

Re:High res?

[MichaelSmith]

Is it just me, or do the photos look like a big blob of yellows and grays?

Based on my experience, all planets look like that from space. And on the surface they all look like southern California.

Based on my experience of watching Doctor Who, Blakes 7, etc; all planets look like the quarry next to the BBC studios.

Re:Pluto = Asteroid WIth Attitude and Ego!

[zach_the_lizard]

But that's the trick to flying! All you have to do is fall at the ground and miss! The, er, knack is in the missing part, but nothing we can't handle.

Classification

[Brad1138]

It turns out that this far-flung world has more in common with Earth than we would have ever imagined.

Should we maybe think of classifying Pluto as a real planet?

Re:Can't wait for a good picture!

[Brad1138]

Damn, the worlds going to end before then.

Re:High res?

[frieko]

Except of course for planets which happen to have Stargates or Cylons, all of which look like Vancouver.

Re:News Flash

[iceborer]

You seem a little down; perhaps your humors are imbalanced. A good leeching should fix that right up!

Re:There are four planets.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yep. You could also say that the Solar System consists of one star, one failed star, and a bunch of other junk.

So, the solar system is an office?

Re:High res?

[end15]

Instead of a big dark blur, I see a big bright blur.

hum... wait a minute... that means Pluto is actually Tatooine!

I knew it was real... I knew it!

(runs off to become a Jedi)