X-SciTech

Pluto is "spray-painting" the poles of its moon Charon

/ AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  A new study finds that Pluto is “spray-painting” the red poles of its big moon Charon.

The paint is actually Pluto’s continually escaping atmosphere. Methane and other gases from Pluto end up coating Charon’s frozen poles, which are so cold and where winters are so long that this buildup remains for decades. A chemical transformation, via solar radiation, turns the polar caps dark red.

This image provided by NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 shows Pluto’s moon, Charon, in a mosaic of photographs acquired by the New Horizons spacecraft during its approach to the system from July 7-14, 2016. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute via AP

Planetary scientist Will Grundy of Lowell Observatory in Arizona bases his findings on observations by NASA’s​ New Horizons​ spacecraft. He says it’s a new phenomenon for scientists and akin to “spray-painting.”

His study was reported by the journal Nature on Wednesday, 14 months to the day after New Horizons’ historic flyby of Pluto​.

First published on September 14, 2016 / 3:52 PM EDT

© 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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