Evidence for Possible Clouds in Pluto's Present-day Atmosphere

被引：9
|
作者：
Stern, S. A. [1 ]
Kammer, J. A. [1 ]
Barth, E. L. [1 ]
Singer, K. N. [1 ]
Lauer, T. R. [2 ]
Hofgartner, J. D. [3 ]
Weaver, H. A. [4 ]
Ennico, K. [5 ]
Olkin, C. B. [1 ]
Young, L. A. [1 ]
机构：
[1] Southwest Res Inst, Suite 300,1050 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302 USA
[2] Natl Opt Astron Observ, POB 26732, Tucson, AZ 85726 USA
[3] Jet Prop Lab, 4800 Oak Grove Dr,MS 183-40, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA
[4] Johns Hopkins Univ, Appl Phys Lab, Space Explorat Sect, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723 USA
[5] NASA, Ames Res Ctr, Div Space Sci, Mail Stop 245-6, Moffett Field, CA 94035 USA
来源：
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL | 2017年 / 154卷 / 01期
关键词：
Kuiper belt: general; planets and satellites: atmospheres; AEROSOL FORMATION; NUCLEATION; PARTICLES; METHANE; IMAGER; MODEL; CO;
D O I：
10.3847/1538-3881/aa78ec
中图分类号：
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号：
0704 ;
摘要：
Several trace constituents can reach saturation vapor pressure in Pluto's present-day atmosphere (PDA). As such, we describe a search for discrete cloud features in Pluto's atmosphere using New Horizons data obtained on 2015 July 14-15, during the Pluto flyby closest approach. We report that the. PDA is at least largely (>99% by surface area) free of discrete clouds. We also report a handful of features that may plausibly be clouds, all of which were detected obliquely and at high-phase-angle observing geometry. No cloud candidates were identified away from the terminators or in low-phase (backscattering geometry) images.
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页数：9
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