Polarimetry of Pluto

Details Polarimetry of Pluto Polarimetry of Pluto

Jan 1982

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982icar...49..120b&link_type=abstract

Icarus, vol. 49, Jan. 1982, p. 120-124.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

7

Astronomical Models, Light Scattering, Planetary Atmospheres, Pluto (Planet), Polarimetry, Solar Position, Asteroids, Light Curve, Linear Polarization, Planetary Rotation, Rayleigh Scattering, Pluto, Polarimetry, Polarization, Phase Angles, Rotation, Surface, Data, Hypotheses, Atmosphere, Models, Geometry, Observations

Scientific paper

The polarization of Pluto has been measured for a range of solar phase angles from 0.8 to 1.8 deg. A mean linear polarization of 0.29 + or - 0.01% (error of the mean) was found. No dependence of both the amount of polarization and position angles with rotational phase or solar phase angle could be detected. The positional angles of polarization agree with calculated position angles of the defect of illumination and are therefore parallel to the scattering plane. The observed polarization cannot be explained as resulting purely from a surface material which is similar to asteroidal surfaces. A hypothesis of polarization from a thin atmosphere, in addition to the surface polarization, is advanced.

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