Triton, Pluto, and the origin of the solar system

Details Triton, Pluto, and the origin of the solar system Triton, Pluto, and the origin of the solar system

Aug 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993sci...261..697l&link_type=abstract

Science (ISSN 0036-8075), vol. 261, no. 5122, p. 697, 698.

Physics

3

Chemical Evolution, Interstellar Chemistry, Pluto (Planet), Solar System, Star Formation, Triton, Abundance, Carbon, Molecular Clouds, Planetary Composition, Pluto, Neptune, Satellites, Triton, Solar System, Origin, Formation, Icy Bodies, Ice, Protoplanets, Composition, Chemistry, Spectroscopy, Density, Abundance, Carbon, Gases, Solar Nebula, Oxygen, Water, Comparison, Atmosphere, Rock, Volatiles, Earth-Based Observations, Methene, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen, Ammonia

Scientific paper

Planets may represent a commmon by-product of star formation, and thus may be a source of physical and chemical clues to the origin of the solar system. This paper discusses the molecular composition of Triton and Pluto, two of the most distant objects of the solar system. Particular consideration is given to the new findings (Cruikshank et al., 1993; Owen et al., 1993) of methane ice in concentrations from 0.05 percent (Triton) to 1.5 percent (Pluto) and carbon monoxide ice in concentrations from 0.1 percent (Triton) to 0.5 percent (Pluton), relative to nitrogen ice. The high abundance of nitrogen suggests a scenario of early outgassing of both Triton and Pluto, followed by substantial loss of CO. The nitrogen seen today on the two bodies must have been produced later in the histories of Pluto and Triton from a nitrogen-bearing molecule much less volatile than molecular nitrogen.

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