[en] Combining stellar occultation observations probing Pluto's atmosphere from 1988 to 2013, and models of energy balance between Pluto's surface and atmosphere, we find the preferred models are consistent with Pluto retaining a collisional atmosphere throughout its 248-year orbit. The occultation results show an increasing atmospheric pressure with time in the current epoch, a trend present only in models with a high thermal inertia and a permanent N<SUB>2</SUB> ice cap at Pluto's north rotational pole.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Olkin, C. B.; Southwest Research Institute, Boulder 80503, USA
Young, L. A.; Southwest Research Institute, Boulder 80503, USA
Borncamp, D.; Southwest Research Institute, Boulder 80503, USA
Pickles, A.; Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, Goleta 93117, USA
Sicardy, B.; Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France
Assafin, M.; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Observatorio do Valongo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Bianco, F. B.; Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics, New York University, NY 10003, USA
Buie, M. W.; Southwest Research Institute, Boulder 80503, USA
de Oliveira, A. Dias; Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France
Gillon, Michaël ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Origines Cosmologiques et Astrophysiques (OrCa)
French, R. G.; Wellesley College, Wellesley, 02481, USA
Ramos Gomes, A.; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Observatorio do Valongo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Jehin, Emmanuel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Origines Cosmologiques et Astrophysiques (OrCa)
Morales, N.; Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía-CSIC, Granada, Spain
Opitom, Cyrielle ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Origines Cosmologiques et Astrophysiques (OrCa)
Ortiz, J. L.; Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía-CSIC, Granada, Spain
Maury, A.; San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations (S.P.A.C.E.), San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Norbury, M.; Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, Goleta 93117, USA
Braga-Ribas, F.; Observatório Nacional/MCTI, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Smith, R.; Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Wasserman, L. H.; Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff 86001, USA
Young, E. F.; Southwest Research Institute, Boulder 80503, USA
Zacharias, M.; United States Naval Observatory, Washington, DC 20392, USA
Zacharias, N.; United States Naval Observatory, Washington, DC 20392, USA)
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