What We've Learned from the Pluto Flyby!

The video discusses the New Horizons mission's findings on Pluto and its moon Sharon. It highlights the unexpected geological activity on Sharon, including its smooth surface and canyons, and the mysterious dark region called Mordor. On Pluto, the discovery of 3-kilometer-high ice mountains challenges previous geological theories, as tidal heating is unlikely due to Pluto and Sharon being tidally locked. The video also explores Pluto's leaky atmosphere, which is losing nitrogen to space, and its implications for understanding Earth's atmospheric history. The video concludes with a call for further research and invites viewers to support the show on Patreon.

What unexpected feature was observed on Charon that suggests geological activity?

• A thick atmosphere

• A smooth surface

• A large number of craters

• Volcanic eruptions

What is the only material on Pluto strong enough to form tall mountains?

• Ammonia ice

• Water ice

• Carbon dioxide ice

• Methane ice

Why can't tidal heating explain the formation of mountains on Pluto?

• Pluto is too far from the Sun

• Pluto and Charon are tidally locked

• Pluto has no atmosphere

• Pluto is too small

What is the primary component of Pluto's atmosphere that is being lost to space?

• Hydrogen

• Helium

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

How might studying Pluto's atmosphere help us understand Earth's past?

• By examining surface temperatures

• By studying volcanic activity

• By analyzing similar atmospheric loss processes

• By comparing atmospheric pressure