What is the true color of the planet Pluto?

Asked 31-Jan-2018
Updated 20-Dec-2023
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Pluto's true color isn't as simple as assigning one single label! It's a multicolored world with fascinating variations, much like our own Earth. Thanks to the incredible images captured by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft in 2015, we have a much clearer picture of its true colors.

Here's a breakdown of Pluto's color palette:

  • Dominant Colors:White: This comes from ice on its surface, primarily frozen nitrogen and methane. Tan: Areas like the vast "Sputnik Planitia" (informally called Pluto's heart) exhibit this hue due to a mix of ices and tholins (organic, hydrocarbon molecules). Brownish-Red: Patches of tholins, likely created by sunlight breaking down methane, give these areas a rusty shade.
  • Additional Hues: Light blue: Subtle hints of this may come from methane ice absorbing near-infrared light. Yellow and orange: Less prevalent, these patches suggest other organic compounds on the surface.

Interestingly, Pluto's colors aren't static. The different ices and tholins react to sunlight and temperature changes, potentially leading to seasonal variations in their appearance.

Therefore, rather than a single "true" color, Pluto showcases a beautiful mosaic of whites, tans, and browns, with hints of other hues, revealing its complex and dynamic icy world.