Planetary scientists have used a conditions prognosis model and computer simulations to find that Earth and Pluto both sport ice blade formations , something we have n’t seen anywhere else in the universe . These astonishing findings are published inNature .
The structures are known as penitentes , as theatre of operations of them look like people doing penance , and they are mould by the erosion of sports stadium - mould depressions with sword - comparable spires . On Earth , they can be up to 5 meters ( 16 feet ) tall , while on Pluto they can get 100 times as tall .
“ This gargantuan size is prognosticate by the same hypothesis that explains the organisation of these features on Earth , ” lead author John Moores of York University , Toronto , said in astatement . “ Exotic conflict in the environment give rise to feature film with very different scales . ”
These giant penitentes are not ready phenomenon like their cousins on Earth , but take tens of millions of years to reach their current top .
The organisation have been observed in the area conversationally advert Tartarus Dorsa , which is located to the right of the heart of Pluto . The Tartarean environment is importantly different from our planet – it is colder , the Sun is dimmer , and the air is much thinner .
Also , the snowfall and ice on Pluto are not made of water , like on Earth , but of nitrogen and methane . It might appear weird that Earth manikin work on our major planet as well as the remote world , but since the same physical laws give across the cosmos , it ’s not surprising that similar structures form on different celestial body .
“ In fact , we were able to gibe the sizing and separation , the counseling of the ridges , as well as their age : three piece of evidence that support our identification of these ridge as penitents , ” said Moore . “ This tryout of our tellurian models for penitentes suggests that we may obtain these features elsewhere in the solar organisation , and in other solar system , where the condition are right . "
It will unquestionably be interesting to look for the existence of similar formation on polar moons like Europa or Enceladus .
