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The atmosphere of Pluto is the layer of gasses that surround the dwarf planet Pluto. It consists mainly of nitrogen (N 2 ), with minor amounts of methane (CH 4 ) and carbon monoxide (CO), all of which are vaporized from surface ices on Pluto 's surface.
The temperature near the surface is 45 K (−228 °C, or −379 °F). Haze layers are seen up to an altitude of 200 km (120 miles). The upper atmosphere is quite extended, going up to 1,800 km (1,100 miles) from the surface, and quite cold, which keeps nitrogen from escaping into space.
Pluto has a thin, tenuous atmosphere that expands when it comes closer to the Sun and collapses as it moves farther away – similar to a comet. The main constituent is molecular nitrogen, though molecules of methane and carbon monoxide have also been detected.
Pluto's atmosphere consists of a thin envelope consisting of 90% nitrogen, and 10% methane, and traces of carbon monoxide gases. These are produced by the ices of these substances on its surface. As Pluto moves away from the Sun, its atmosphere gradually freezes out and falls to the ground.
Pluto Atmosphere. Surface Pressure: ~13 microbar Surface temperature: 24 - 38 K (-247 - -233 C) Scale height: ~18 km lower atmosphere, ~50 km above 30 km Mean molecular weight: ~28 Atmospheric composition: 99% Nitrogen (N 2), 0.5% Methane (CH 4), 0.05% Carbon Monoxide (CO), trace HCN, C 2 H x hydrocarbons.
The New Horizons spacecraft included several instruments that observed Pluto’s atmosphere, primarily (i) the Radio Experiment (REX) instrument, which produced near-surface pressure and temperature profiles; (ii) the Alice ultraviolet spectrograph, which gave information on atmospheric composition; and (iii) the Long Range Reconnaissance ...
The composition of Pluto’s atmosphere was measured by observing sunlight during a solar occultation. Different molecules absorbed the light at specific ultraviolet wavelengths in the range of...
Pluto's Surface Composition. Images of Pluto from New Horizons prepared for the hyperwall. The Ralph instrument detected frozen methane, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide on Pluto. Spectra from the Ralph instrument reveal variations in methane ice abundance on Pluto.
The scientists said that Pluto's thermal characteristics support the suggestion that Pluto has significant atmosphere of methane. Previous studies of Pluto found evidence of tenuous methane atmosphere. The new studies, however, indicate that Pluto's atmosphere may be much more extensive.
Molecular nitrogen (N2) dominates the atmosphere (at altitudes of less than 1800 kilometers or so), whereas methane (CH4), acetylene (C2H2), ethylene (C2H4), and ethane (C2H6) are abundant minor species and likely feed the production of an extensive haze that encompasses Pluto.