Solid methane on Triton and Pluto - 3- to 4-micron spectrophotometry

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(90)90096-R· OSTI ID:5974727

Spencer, J R; Buie, M W; Bjoraker, G L ^[1]

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1. Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA) Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD (USA) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA)

Methane has been identified in the Pluto/Charon system on the basis of absorption features in the reflectance spectrum at 1.5 and 2.3 microns; attention is presently given to observations of a 3.25 micron-centered deep absorption feature in Triton and Pluto/Charon system reflectance spectra. This absorption may indicate the presence of solid methane, constituting either the dominant surface species or a mixture with a highly transparent substance, such as N2 frost. 35 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5974727
• Journal Information: Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA), Journal Name: Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA) Vol. 88; ISSN 0019-1035; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALKANES
ATMOSPHERES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
NEPTUNE PLANET
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
PLUTO PLANET
SATELLITES
SPACE VEHICLES
SPECTRAL REFLECTANCE
SURFACES
VEHICLES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES