Scientists have explained the red color of Pluto and suggested that in – the ocean – of Korrespondent.net

 New Horizons probe is transmitted to Earth data that told scientists that the atmosphere of Pluto, there kind of fog of hydrocarbons and that above the surface there is a constant “rain”, coloring the surface of the red, said one of the participants in the program, Michael Summers, said NASA.

 “The rays of the sun falling into the atmosphere of Pluto, the methane molecule decomposed that it contains. As our instruments, they turn to a different type of substance – ethylene and other unsaturated hydrocarbons. Over time, they accumulate up to a certain critical point and turn into a kind of haze or fog “, – said the scientist.

 According to Summers, the haze gradually deposited on the surface of Pluto, which can be compared to drizzle, and these molecules are “bombarded” the rays of the sun and turn into other types of hydrocarbons that stain the surface of the dwarf planet in red.

 Another member of the scientific team of the probe New Horizons Bill McKinnon said he did not rule out smiling likelihood that under the surface of Pluto may be a liquid ocean, whose existence we see manifestations of geological activity on the surface of the dwarf planet.

 “We can not precisely calculate the mass of Pluto, but some indirect evidence suggests that it is not as dense as it is expected. This makes us suspect, and I stress that this is only a hypothesis that under the surface of Pluto might be hiding a liquid Ocean “- explains the scientist.

 Note that the probe is transmitted to Earth for only 5% of the data collected during the passage through the Pluto system, and so far there are no scientific arguments in favor of or against this theory.

 As explained by Alan Stern, head of the scientific mission, today the probe moved to the “slow” phase data, including geological information that will help clarify the issue.

  While traveling through the solar system. Family photo album

 For the first time in the history of New Horizons space probe to Pluto approached what he said to the Earth in a short message.

 July 17 NASA has published a unique video flight over the surface of the New Horizons Pluto.