Surface Compositions Across Pluto and Charon

The New Horizons spacecraft mapped colors and infrared spectra across the encounter hemispheres of Pluto and Charon. The volatile ices CH\(_4\), CO, and N\(_2\), that dominate Pluto's surface, have complicated spatial distributions resulting from sublimation, condensation, and glacial flow acti...

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Veröffentlicht in:arXiv.org 2016-04
Hauptverfasser: Grundy, W M, Binzel, R P, Buratti, B J, Cook, J C, Cruikshank, D P, Dalle Ore, C M, Earle, A M, Ennico, K, Howett, C J A, Lunsford, A W, Olkin, C B, Parker, A H, Philippe, S, Protopapa, S, Quirico, E, Reuter, D C, Schmitt, B, Singer, K N, Verbiscer, A J, Beyer, R A, Buie, M W, Cheng, A F, Jennings, D E, Linscott, I R, Parker, J Wm, Schenk, P M, Spencer, J R, Stansberry, J A, Stern, S A, Throop, H B, Tsang, C C C, Weaver, H A, Weigle, G E, Young, L A, the New Horizons Science Team
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:The New Horizons spacecraft mapped colors and infrared spectra across the encounter hemispheres of Pluto and Charon. The volatile ices CH\(_4\), CO, and N\(_2\), that dominate Pluto's surface, have complicated spatial distributions resulting from sublimation, condensation, and glacial flow acting over seasonal and geological timescales. Pluto's H\(_2\)O ice "bedrock" is also mapped, with isolated outcrops occurring in a variety of settings. Pluto's surface exhibits complex regional color diversity associated with its distinct provinces. Charon's color pattern is simpler, dominated by neutral low latitudes and a reddish northern polar region. Charon near infrared spectra reveal highly localized areas with strong NH\(_3\) absorption tied to small craters with relatively fresh-appearing impact ejecta.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1604.05368