According to scientists, this material could be methane that has later condensed into ice. John Stansberry is a New Horizons team member and he believes that this coating represents methane ice, which shows the same properties as Earths water, turning into frost when it reaches high altitudes.
That this material coats only the upper slopes of the peaks suggests methane ice may act like water in Earths atmosphere, condensing as frost at high altitude, said John Stansberry, a New Horizons science team member from Space Telescope Science Institute of Baltimore.
Creighton Elementary School Phoenix AZ 1978-1982, William T. Machan Elementary School Phoenix AZ 1982-1985, Creighton Middle School Phoenix AZ 1985-1987, Metro Vocational Technical Institute Phoenix AZ 1989-1991