NASA New Horizons discovers Red Ice Water on Pluto

Pluto, a dwarf planet in a Kuiper belt orbiting the sun directly in the oval orbit found beyond Neptune planet. Pluto has 5 moons, Charon biggest moon in Pluto, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra.

New Horizons space probe was launched by NASA on 2006. The mission goal is to analyze the formation of Pluto, the Kupier belt, its atmosphere, surfaces, interiors and its moons.

The photos taken by New Horizon on the surface of the Pluto surprises the scientist. It shows the water ice present on the surface and blue skies. Blue wavelength from sun reveals the pluto's sky is blue in color. Sun wavelength scatters some particles, on earth it is tiny nitrogen but on Pluto it might be tholins, a simple organic molecule says the scientist.

Earlier, frozen nitrogen and carbon is seen on the surface of Pluto, now it shows the Pluto is covered by the small parts of water ice in craters and valleys. It is very rocky in Pluto’s very cool temperature. It is a strong water ice that are bright red when enhanced color images.

'I'm surprised that this water ice is so red,' says Silvia Protopapa, another New Horizons team member. 'We don’t yet understand the relationship between water ice and the reddish tholin colorants on Pluto's surface.'

Scientist made this new substance tholin in laboratories on earth. Pluto surface is filled with nitrogen with some methane and carbon monoxide. The color of tholin varies from yellow, red to black based upon different composition.

New Horizon is now at the distance of 33.82 AU and it is travelling beyond Pluto at 0.74 AU. An AU means astronomical unit, distance between Earth and Sun which is approximately 150 million km or 93 million miles. It is very surprised New Horizon is in good condition and traveling to achieve its goal.

NASA New Horizons discovers Red Ice Water on Pluto