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: Stern, S. A., Weaver, H. A., Spencer, J. R., Olkin, C. B., Gladstone, G. R., Grundy, W. M., Moore, J. M., Cruikshank, D. P., Elliott, H. A., McKinnon, W. B., Parker, J. W., Verbiscer, A. J., Young, L. A., Aguilar, D. A., Albers, J. M., Andert, T., Andrews Tags: Online Only, Planetary Science r-articles Source Type: news
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