Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU69, a small Kuiper Belt object

We describe initial results from these encounter observations. MU69 is a bilobed contact binary with a flattened shape, discrete geological units, and noticeable albedo heterogeneity. However, there is little surface color or compositional heterogeneity. No evidence for satellites, rings or other dust structures, a gas coma, or solar wind interactions was detected. MU69’s origin appears consistent with pebble cloud collapse followed by a low-velocity merger of its two lobes.
Source: ScienceNOW - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Online Only, Planetary Science r-articles Source Type: news