Pluto's Changing Surface in the far-IR

Details Pluto's Changing Surface in the far-IR Pluto's Changing Surface in the far-IR

Sep 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.0602s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #6.02

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Scientific paper

During its mission, Spitzer observed Pluto's thermal light-curve at 24 and 70 microns on 2 occasions (2004 and 2007) and at 160 microns in 2008. Comparison of these data sets to each other, and to similar observations made using ISO in 1997 can not be explained in terms of simple changes in the viewing geometry and distance to Pluto. Pluto has become much fainter at the Spitzer wavelengts than can be explained by such effects, and there appear to be real changes in the shape of the lightcurve. We conclude that the albedo and/or volatile-ice distribution on the surface have changed significantly. This interpretation is broadly consistent with recent observations of changes in Pluto's visible lightcurve and atmospheric pressure. Continued monitoring of Pluto in the coming years is likely to lead to important new insights into the physical mechanisms controlling the surface-atmosphere interaction and seasonal processes. Such observations should be undertaken using all available methods in order to support the eventual interpretation of data acquired during the New Horizons encounter in 2015.

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