Latest Pluto closeups zoom in on mysterious features

NASA's latest images of Pluto contain intriguing patterns of pits that scientists have trouble explaining.

The pits, which are several metres deep and hundreds of metres across, appear across a section of Pluto's pale, heart-shaped feature, nicknamedTombaughRegioin images captured by the New Horizons spacecraft.

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The spacecraft has been sending back images captured during its historic flyby of Pluto and its moons on July 14.

New Horizons mission scientists think the pits may have formed through a combination of ice fracturing and evaporation.

Along with the closeup of the pits, released late last week, NASA also released a colour closeup featuring badlands, mountains and plains at the edge of Tombaugh Regio.