methods: observational; methods: data analysis; planets and satellites: atmospheres; techniques: photometric; planets and satellites: physical evolution; planets and satellites: terrestrial planets
Abstract :
[en] Context. The tenuous nitrogen (N[SUB]2[/SUB]) atmosphere on Pluto undergoes strong seasonal effects due to high obliquity and orbital eccentricity, and has recently (July 2015) been observed by the New Horizons spacecraft. <BR /> Aims: The main goals of this study are (i) to construct a well calibrated record of the seasonal evolution of surface pressure on Pluto and (ii) to constrain the structure of the lower atmosphere using a central flash observed in 2015. <BR /> Methods: Eleven stellar occultations by Pluto observed between 2002 and 2016 are used to retrieve atmospheric profiles (density, pressure, temperature) between altitude levels of 5 and 380 km (i.e. pressures from 10 μbar to 10 nbar). <BR /> Results: (i) Pressure has suffered a monotonic increase from 1988 to 2016, that is compared to a seasonal volatile transport model, from which tight constraints on a combination of albedo and emissivity of N[SUB]2[/SUB] ice are derived. (ii) A central flash observed on 2015 June 29 is consistent with New Horizons REX profiles, provided that (a) large diurnal temperature variations (not expected by current models) occur over Sputnik Planitia; and/or (b) hazes with tangential optical depth of 0.3 are present at 4-7 km altitude levels; and/or (c) the nominal REX density values are overestimated by an implausibly large factor of 20%; and/or (d) higher terrains block part of the flash in the Charon facing hemisphere.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Meza, E.; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Sicardy, B.; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Assafin, M.; Observatório do Valongo/UFRJ, Ladeira Pedro Antonio 43, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20080-090, Brazil ; Observatório Nacional/MCTIC, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia-LIneA and INCT do e-Universo, Rua General José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20921-400, Brazil
Ortiz, J. L.; Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n., 18008-Granada, Spain
Bertrand, T.; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Ames Research Center, Space Science Division, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
Lellouch, Emmanuel; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Desmars, Josselin; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Forget, F.; Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, IPSL, Sorbonne Université, UPMC Université de Paris 06, CNRS, 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
Bérard, D.; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Doressoundiram, A.; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Lecacheux, J.; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Oliveira, J. Marques; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Roques, F.; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Widemann, T.; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
Colas, F.; IMCCE/Observatoire de Paris, CNRS UMR 8028, 77 Avenue Denfert Rochereau, 75014, Paris, France
Vachier, F.; IMCCE/Observatoire de Paris, CNRS UMR 8028, 77 Avenue Denfert Rochereau, 75014, Paris, France
Renner, S.; IMCCE/Observatoire de Paris, CNRS UMR 8028, 77 Avenue Denfert Rochereau, 75014, Paris, France ; Observatoire de Lille, Université de Lille, 1, impasse de l'Observatoire, 59000, Lille, France
Leiva, R.; Southwest Research Institute, Department of Space Studies, 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 300, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA
Braga-Ribas, F.; LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France ; Observatório Nacional/MCTIC, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia-LIneA and INCT do e-Universo, Rua General José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20921-400, Brazil ; Federal University of Technology - Paraná (UTFPR/DAFIS), Rua Sete de Setembro 3165, CEP 80230-901, Curitiba, Brazil
Benedetti-Rossi, G.; Observatório Nacional/MCTIC, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia-LIneA and INCT do e-Universo, Rua General José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20921-400, Brazil
Camargo, J. I. B.; Observatório Nacional/MCTIC, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia-LIneA and INCT do e-Universo, Rua General José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20921-400, Brazil
Dias-Oliveira, A.; Observatório Nacional/MCTIC, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia-LIneA and INCT do e-Universo, Rua General José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20921-400, Brazil
Morgado, B.; Observatório Nacional/MCTIC, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia-LIneA and INCT do e-Universo, Rua General José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20921-400, Brazil
Gomes-Júnior, A. R.; Observatório Nacional/MCTIC, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia-LIneA and INCT do e-Universo, Rua General José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20921-400, Brazil
Vieira-Martins, R.; Observatório Nacional/MCTIC, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia-LIneA and INCT do e-Universo, Rua General José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20921-400, Brazil
Tirado, A. Castro; Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n., 18008-Granada, Spain
Duffard, R.; Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n., 18008-Granada, Spain
Morales, N.; Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n., 18008-Granada, Spain
Santos-Sanz, P.; Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n., 18008-Granada, Spain
Jelínek, M.; Astronomical Institute (ASÚ AVČR), Fričova 298, Ondřejov, Czech Republic
Cunniffe, R.; Institute of Physics (FZÚ AVČR), Na Slovance 2, Prague, Czech Republic
Querel, R.; National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Lauder, New Zealand
Harnisch, M.; Occultation Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ), Wellington, New Zealand ; Dunedin Astronomical Society, Dunedin, New Zealand
Jansen, R.; Occultation Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ), Wellington, New Zealand ; Dunedin Astronomical Society, Dunedin, New Zealand
Pennell, A.; Occultation Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ), Wellington, New Zealand ; Dunedin Astronomical Society, Dunedin, New Zealand
Todd, S.; Occultation Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ), Wellington, New Zealand ; Dunedin Astronomical Society, Dunedin, New Zealand
Ivanov, V. D.; ESO (European Southern Observatory) - Alonso de Cordova 3107, Vitacura, Santiago, Chile
Opitom, C.; ESO (European Southern Observatory) - Alonso de Cordova 3107, Vitacura, Santiago, Chile
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Manfroid, Jean ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Pollock, J.; Physics and Astronomy Department, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28608, USA
Reichart, D. E.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
Haislip, J. B.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
Ivarsen, K. M.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
LaCluyze, A. P.; Department of Physics, Central Michigan University, 1200 S. Franklin Street, Mt Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA
Maury, A.; San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Gil-Hutton, R.; Grupo de Ciencias Planetarias, Departamento de Geofísica y Astronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Juan and CONICET, Argentina
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Littlefair, S.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S3 7RH, UK
Marsh, T.; Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
Veillet, C.; Large Binocular Telescope Observatory, 933 N Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
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Beisker, W.; Internationale Amateursternwarte (IAS) e. V., Bichler Straße 46, 81479, München, Germany ; International Occultation Timing Association - European Section (IOTA-ES), Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
Bode, H.-J.; Internationale Amateursternwarte (IAS) e. V., Bichler Straße 46, 81479, München, Germany ; International Occultation Timing Association - European Section (IOTA-ES), Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
Kretlow, M.; Internationale Amateursternwarte (IAS) e. V., Bichler Straße 46, 81479, München, Germany ; International Occultation Timing Association - European Section (IOTA-ES), Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
Herald, D.; Occultation Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ), Wellington, New Zealand ; International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA), PO Box 7152, Kent, WA, 98042, USA ; Canberra Astronomical Society, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Gault, D.; Occultation Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ), Wellington, New Zealand ; Western Sydney Amateur Astronomy Group (WSAAG), Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Kuriwa Observatory, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Kerr, S.; Occultation Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ), Wellington, New Zealand ; Astronomical Association of Queensland, QLD, Australia
Pavlov, H.; International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA), PO Box 7152, Kent, WA, 98042, USA
Faragó, O.; International Occultation Timing Association - European Section (IOTA-ES), Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
Klös, O.; International Occultation Timing Association - European Section (IOTA-ES), Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
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Greenhill, J. G.; School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 37, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
Hill, K. M.; School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 37, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
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Devogèle, M.; Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, USA
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Brosch, N.; School of Physics & Astronomy and Wise Observatory, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
Kaspi, S.; School of Physics & Astronomy and Wise Observatory, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
Polishook, D.; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 0076100, Israel
Manulis, I.; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 0076100, Israel
Ait Moulay Larbi, M.; Oukaimeden Observatory, LPHEA, FSSM, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
Moulane, Youssef ; Space sciences, Technologies & Astrophysics Research (STAR) Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium ; Oukaimeden Observatory, LPHEA, FSSM, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
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Kilmartin, P.; Mt. John Observatory, University of Canterbury, PO Box 56, Lake Tekapo, 7945, New Zealand
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