The largest volcano outside the solar system

The 150km volcano on Pluto may be the largest volcano on the outer rim of the solar system.

On the rim of the solar system , the largest volcano according to scientists records Olympus Mons on Mars. This mountain is 624km wide and 25km high. However, if you look at the outer solar system , this position may belong to Mount Wright Mons on Pluto.

According to the IFL Science, Wright Mons is a giant ice structure surrounded by red rings. It is 150km wide and 4km high, bearing volcanic characteristics, including a deep concave mouth.

Wright Mons is located near Sputnik Planum, a large flat area.(Photo: NASA).

Images of Wright Mons recorded by New Horizons spacecraft during the flight through the Pluto surface on July 14, 2015.

The features of the mountain were taken from a distance of 48,000km with the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager telescope (LORRI) on board. Color data taken at an altitude of 34,000km through multi-spectral cameras Ralph / Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC).

What makes scientists wonder is that there are very few red materials (tholins) found in the area. In addition, the absence of concave holes shows that the surface of the volcano is relatively young. This means it has changed a few million years ago, possibly because Wright Mons operates at the end of Pluto's history. Wright Mons has many similarities with the 6-kilometer Piccard Mons volcano also located on Pluto.

Jeff Moore, a scientist at the US Department of Aeronautics (NASA) Ames Research Center at Moffet Field, says scientists cannot yet make firm conclusions about Wright Mons. If Wright Mons volcano has been in operation recently, Pluto is more likely to have internal heat.Wright Mons' cause may be radioactive decay of the remaining elements since Pluto's formation.