Methane absorption variations in the spectrum of Pluto

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(87)90090-X· OSTI ID:5965774

Buie, M W; Fink, U

The lightcurve phases of 0.18, 0.35, 0.49, and 0.98 covered by 5600-10,500 A absolute spectrophotometry of Pluto during four nights include minimum (0.98) light and one near-maximum (0.49) light. The spectra are noted to exhibit significant methane band absorption depth variations at 6200, 7200, 7900, 8400, 8600, 8900, and 10,000 A, with the minimum absorption occurring at minimum light and thereby indicating a 30-percent change in the methane column abundance in the course of three days. An attempt is made to model this absorption strength variation with rotational phase terms of an isotropic surface distribution of methane frost and a clear layer of CH4 gas. 34 references.

• Research Organization: Arizona Univ., Tucson
• OSTI ID: 5965774
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Vol. 70
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
PLUTO PLANET
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
FROST
METHANE
VARIATIONS
ALKANES
HYDROCARBONS
ICE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANETS
SPECTRA
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena