Astronomers have long been fascinated by a massive heart-shaped feature on the surface of Pluto, known as Tombaugh Regio, captured by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft in 2015. Recent research has shed light on the mystery behind this distinctive heart shape, offering new insights into the origins of the dwarf planet.
While the heart appears as a single element, scientists have discovered that it is composed of different materials. The left lobe of the heart, known as Sputnik Planitia, is a deep basin rich in nitrogen ice, covering an area equivalent to about one-quarter of the United States. This basin is significantly lower in elevation compared to the rest of Pluto's surface, creating a unique topographical feature.
An international team of scientists has proposed a groundbreaking theory that a cataclysmic event involving a planetary body colliding with Pluto early in its history led to the formation of the heart-shaped feature. Through numerical simulations, researchers determined that a collision with a planetary body approximately 435 miles in diameter created the distinctive shape of Tombaugh Regio.
The impact, which occurred at a slanted angle rather than head-on, resulted in the formation of Sputnik Planitia in a teardrop shape. The frigidity of Pluto's core and the low velocity of the collision played crucial roles in shaping the basin. The remnants of the colliding planetary body's core are believed to lie beneath Sputnik Planitia, providing further evidence of the violent collision that shaped Pluto's surface.
Lead study author Dr. Harry Ballantyne highlighted the unique nature of this collision, emphasizing the precision required in calculating the impact due to the slow velocities and strength of solid ice in the distant Solar System. The findings, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, offer a glimpse into the chaotic early days of the solar system and the complex interactions that shaped celestial bodies like Pluto.
By unraveling the mystery of Pluto's heart-shaped feature, scientists have not only deepened their understanding of the dwarf planet's history but also gained valuable insights into the dynamics of planetary collisions in the outer reaches of our solar system.
