Pluto’s Heart: Formed by Cosmic Collision, Not Ocean Depths

The heart-shaped feature on Pluto, known as Tombaugh Regio, has intrigued scientists since its discovery during NASA’s New Horizons mission in 2015. Recent research published in the journal Nature Astronomy suggests that this distinctive formation was likely formed through a slow-motion collision with a large icy rock.
Using computer simulations, researchers led by Martin Jutzi from the University of Bern in Switzerland explored various collision scenarios to understand how Tombaugh Regio could have been created. They found that an oblique collision with an icy body, estimated to be around 454 miles (730 km) in diameter, probably resulted in the formation of this unique feature. Unlike collisions closer to the sun, those in the distant reaches of the solar system involve slower velocities and stronger ice, requiring precise calculations to understand the dynamics accurately.
The impact likely occurred early in Pluto’s history and caused the impacting body to flatten on Pluto’s surface, rather than melting or liquefying portions of the planet. Consequently, the impacting body may now reside beneath the smooth nitrogen ice covering Tombaugh Regio.
Interestingly, despite the lower mass of Pluto’s heart compared to its surroundings, the simulations suggest that Pluto does not harbor a subsurface ocean beneath its icy layers. The positioning of Tombaugh Regio near the equator, rather than migrating toward the pole over time, can be explained by the local mass excess created during the impact.
This research challenges previous theories suggesting the need for a subsurface ocean to explain the placement of Pluto’s heart-shaped feature. Instead, the study suggests that the impact event itself can account for its position without the necessity of a liquid ocean beneath Pluto’s surface.

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