Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.2005b&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #20.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.983
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
1
Scientific paper
We will present a summary of the current state of knowledge of the photometric properties of the surfaces of the four bodies in the Pluto system. Our understanding of Pluto benefits from the longest running dataset and present-day photometry is especially valuable for tracking and characterizing the current seasonal evolution. In particular, the surface of Pluto has recently been seen to have undergone a global-scale change in color. At the same time the phase coefficient, a tracer for the state of surface texture, remains unchanged. The smaller bodes in the system are somewhat easier objects for study in that they are not expected to exhibit seasonal variability. Charon is known to be compositionally distinct from Pluto and the same is expected for Hydra and Nix. The phase coefficient for Charon has now been shown to differ from Pluto both in degree and in character thus accentuating the differences in surface properties between the two. Information about the newly discovered satellites, Hydra and Nix, is much more sparse but the expectation is that they will more closely resemble Charon in surface properties.
Our presentation will include a summary of current properties with a special emphasis on seasonal evolution on Pluto, phase coefficients, lightcurves, and comparisons of surface composition enabled by filter photometry. Also included will be a discussion of future observational plans that will lead up to the New Horizons flyby in 2015.
This work has been supported by grants from NASA and STScI.
Buie Marc William
Grundy Will M.
Stephens Denise C.
Tholen David J.
No associations
LandOfFree
Photometric Properties of the Pluto System does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Photometric Properties of the Pluto System, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photometric Properties of the Pluto System will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1122078