The Truly Odd Shape of Ultima Thule

New Horizon’s departing view of Ultima Thule, caught as the spacecraft raced away at 31,000 mph, shows that the Kuiper Belt Object’s shape is actually quite odd. Rather than the “snowman” shape initially reported, it more closely resembles a giant pancake (Ultima) stuck to a dented walnut (Thule). The revelation came from “tracing out" the unlit side of Ultima Thule as it blocked the view to background stars (see animation). NOAO Astronomer Tod Lauer played a critical role in the investigation.

Créditos:

NASA/Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/NOAO

About the Image

Id:noaoann19004a
Tipo:Artwork
Release date:11 de Febrero de 2019
Related announcements:noaoann19004
Size:1400 x 675 px

Sobre el Objeto


Formatos de Imágenes

Large JPEGLarge JPEG
68,2 KB
Screensize JPEGScreensize JPEG
58,1 KB

Zoomable


Fondos de Pantalla

1024x7681024x768
76,5 KB
1280x10241280x1024
100,3 KB
1600x12001600x1200
126,6 KB
1920x12001920x1200
145,8 KB
2048x15362048x1536
430,5 KB