NASA Data Shows Pluto’s Equator Is Lined with Towering Methane Ice Spires

Aug 4, 2025 - 18:00
NASA Data Shows Pluto’s Equator Is Lined with Towering Methane Ice Spires
New research based on New Horizons’ decade-old data has uncovered extensive bladed terrain made of methane ice on Pluto. These towering spires, arranged in spaced-out, parallel rows, are likely shaped by seasonal condensation and sublimation cycles. While the terrain spans over half the planet’s midsection, five times the width of continental USA, scientists remain unsure of its uniformity.