Pluto’s Surface Might Be Resting On An Ammonia-Water Slurry

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Icy, broken terrain on the northwestern edge of the region informally called Sputnik Planum. NASA/New Horizons.

Researchers have proposed a mechanism that could explain the surprisingly active surface of Pluto that was observed by New Horizons during its flyby in July. They think that Pluto’s crust rests on a mantle of water ice and ammonia whose convection movements are responsible for rejuvenating the dwarf planet’s exterior.