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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."

3 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Fuel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    So Pluto could be a useful fuel source when mankind starts to explore outside the solar system. I wonder in how many years/decades time this will be.

    Tim

  2. Re:So... by Canazza · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "A dwarf planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity but has not cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite."

    By this definition, Neptune isn't a planet, it's a dwarf planet, because it hasn't cleared Pluto out of it's neighbouring region...

    --
    It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
  3. Re:Quite a long and interesting article... by conureman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    By no strange coincidence 1978 was the year I put away the 4" Reflector and embarked on a futile quest to control my social ineptitude near desirable women. Guess I missed a few things.

    --
    The cost of that cleanup, of course, will be borne by taxpayers, not industry.