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The Lower Atmosphere of Pluto Revealed

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the they-should-buy-a-space-heater-haha-get-it-so-funny-blam-blam dept.

Matt_dk writes "Using ESO's Very Large Telescope, astronomers have gained valuable new insights about the atmosphere of the dwarf planet Pluto. The scientists found unexpectedly large amounts of methane in the atmosphere, and also discovered that the atmosphere is hotter than the surface by about 40 degrees, although it still only reaches a frigid minus 180 degrees Celsius. These properties of Pluto's atmosphere may be due to the presence of pure methane patches or of a methane-rich layer covering the dwarf planet's surface."

8 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. i see the future by thhamm · · Score: 3, Funny

    cue the "methane" & "uranus" jokes.

    1. Re:i see the future by Machtyn · · Score: 3, Funny

      So, now Pluto gets to be the butt of all the jokes.

    2. Re:i see the future by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's "Gravitationally Challenged" planet, you insensitive clod!

      --
      Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
  2. Quite a long and interesting article... by amentajo · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... concerning a celestial body whose public status has recently changed from "Boring Planet" to "Boring Dwarf Planet" after its 15 minutes of fame in the news. I guess now it's a "Less Boring Dwarf Planet".

  3. Mostly by tverbeek · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've actually just transmitted an update to the article about Pluto in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It now reads "Mostly Boring."

    --
    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  4. Rubbing it in by orkybash · · Score: 3, Funny

    "new insights about the atmosphere of the dwarf planet Pluto"

    Aww, come on, you guys are just rubbing it in now!

  5. Re:Eris by mysticgoat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Eris should be called a planet.

    If you don't invite her to the party, there will be hell to pay.

  6. Re:So... by M8e · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do you really want to memorize over 100 elements? NO! There should only be five! Aether, Air, Earth, Fire and Water!

    Do you really want to memorize over 100 countries? NO! There should only be one per continent!