Possible scenarios that the New Horizons spacecraft may find in its close encounter with Pluto

TL;DR

This paper explores various possible phenomena and environmental conditions that the New Horizons spacecraft might encounter during its close approach to Pluto, including geological activity, magnetic fields, and plasma interactions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of potential Pluto features and plasma phenomena that could be observed during the spacecraft's encounter.

Findings

Potential geological activity due to tidal heating

Unlikely presence of an intrinsic magnetic field

Possible plasma and ionospheric phenomena

Abstract

Next year, 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft will have a close encounter with Pluto. In the present study we discuss some possibilities regarding what the spacecraft may encounter during its approach to Pluto. Among them we should include: the presence of geological activity due to heat generated by tides; the unlikely presence of an intrinsic magnetic field; the possibility of a plasmasphere and a plasmapause; the position of an ionopause; the existence of an ionospheric trans-terminator flow similar to that at Venus and Mars; and the presence of a Magnus force that produces a deflection of Pluto plasma wake. This deflection oscillates up and down in its orbit around the sun.