What is the atmosphere of Pluto? Pluto's atmosphere: composition

The atmosphere of Pluto is the most mysterious air shell of the Solar System. Firstly, because it is supposedly detached from the surface, it is separated by a vacuum. Some of its particles reach Charon. Secondly, its average density is several times higher than the density of the Earth's atmosphere. Alas, the gases from which it consists, alas, are unsuitable for mankind. And thirdly, the atmosphere of the planet Pluto is a variable phenomenon. Given its density and mass, it can evaporate into the so-called "summer" on the planet. If these and many other phenomena that occur on Pluto, you are interested, we suggest plunging into his world.

Where to search for the ninth planet?

Pluto is the ninth object from the Sun, which belongs to the category of dwarf planets of the SS. Literally in the last century, he occupied the honorable place of the planet most remote from our star. Later it was discovered that the object is part of the Kuiper belt, and in its parameters even mute is less than some other dwarf planets that are in this asteroid ring. Pluto's orbit is the largest in our system, therefore the complete revolution around the Sun here lasts 248 terrestrial years. In our era, astronomers have the opportunity to observe the Plutonian summer. This fact is also positive because the planet is as close to the Sun as possible, it is more clearly visible through telescopes. Pluto's atmosphere is also excellent in this period. Initially, its existence was proved by a hypothetical way, but later it was possible to consider the air shell thanks to optics.

Opening the Atmosphere

Pluto itself was discovered very recently - in 1930. She was recorded as the ninth full-fledged SS object and allegedly forgot about her for a while. In the 1980s, observations of the planet resumed. Most of the images were taken with the help of the Hubble telescope, which revealed us the secrets of the cosmos. In 1985, the atmosphere of Pluto was first discovered. The composition of the air shell was established mathematically, since it was not possible to launch the shuttle to take air samples. In parallel with this, the surface of the planet was also studied. As it turned out, it consists of crystalline dry ice, consisting of hydrogen and water itself. Despite the fact that the planet is solid, like the Earth, it is its surface, evaporating, forms an air layer. Therefore, the composition of these two components is identical, which to a large extent makes the work of astronomers easier.

Components of chemistry

Before proceeding to the study of the properties and interactions of various gases in space, let us consider what the atmosphere of Pluto consists of. This is a fairly thick shell, the width of which is 3,000 kilometers. Its basis is nitrogen - it occupies 99% of the total airspace. 0.9 percent is carbon monoxide, and the residue is methane. All these gases are floating around the planet because they evaporate from the ice covering its surface. Over time, the process of evaporation increases in scale, due to which the atmosphere of Pluto also grows. Its composition remains unchanged, but sublimation takes on a more global scale. This entails an increase in the temperature of the celestial body, as well as an increase in its gravitational field. Perhaps in the future, which can not be compared with human life, Pluto will become an inhabited planet.

The air envelope of Pluto in summer

We have already said that now, looking at the telescope on Pluto, we can see how the summer passes there. During this period the planet approaches the Sun as much as possible and warms up warmly. It is at this point that the gaseous atmosphere of Pluto is formed, which earth researchers could see in telescopes. In summer, because of the greenhouse effect, which occurs under the influence of sunlight, evaporation occurs. Only here the surface ice changes not into water, but directly into the gas, since gravitation on Pluto is absent. This gas, consisting mostly of nitrogen, rises by a giant mono-cloud above the planet, a little even breaking away from it and forming a so-called vacuum layer. Some molecules of nitrogen and methane can reach the surface of Charon. Thanks to this summer greenhouse effect, in fact, the presence of the Pluto atmosphere was proved. Scientists have noticed that the planet has not a clear outline, but is as if in the abyss of a large cloud. With a more detailed examination, all the above facts were established.

Winter in the realm of cold

If humanity had reached today's technological heights 200 years ago, it would be unrealistic to prove the presence of Pluto's atmosphere. At a time when the dwarf planet is moving away from the Sun, all the gases that hover over it in the summer return to the surface and become part of the glaciers from which they evaporated at the beginning of the last season. In this case, Pluto looks completely "naked," and its outlines are clearly visible through the telescope, since they are not obscured by the air envelope.

Air temperature in different layers of the atmosphere

We are used to the fact that the air envelope of the Earth cools as it moves away from the surface, and many believe that on all the planets things are exactly the same. But this is not so, and a clear example of this is the atmosphere of Pluto. The surface of the planet itself is incredibly cold - 231 degrees below zero. This is the indicator that is typical for the lower layer of the atmosphere. As the distance from the eternal glaciers that cover Pluto, the temperature rises. In the upper layers of the atmosphere, we already meet the figure of -173 degrees, which, in principle, is normal for the space environment. Moreover, there is a striking paradox here. In summer, when gases are separated from the planet, due to sublimation, its surface cools even more. This is the so-called anti-greenhouse effect. In winter, due to the fact that the gases disappear, and direct sunlight hits Pluto, the eternal glaciers warm up slightly.

Pluto's sky

Due to the fact that the gravitational field of this dwarf planet is too small, it does not keep the atmosphere around itself. Those gases that evaporate are removed from the surface, in no way protecting this planet from the effects of cosmic radiation and asteroids. But even if steam mixtures of nitrogen and carbon monoxide could linger over the bark of Pluto, people could not live in such conditions unequivocally. Due to the lack of hydrogen, and also because of the extremely low density of space, the atmosphere of Pluto is maximally discharged. This means that there also can not be formed a special layer that will change the color of the sky depending on the time of day. Therefore, theoretically, being on Pluto, you do not distinguish from day to night. Constantly in front of you will rotate a black sphere on which bright flashes will emerge distant stars and past flying planets.

Conclusion

Today astronomers are most interested in what kind of atmosphere Pluto really has. Are their calculations and observations really accurate and how much do they converge with reality? In the near future, it is planned to launch a satellite that can overcome the orbits of gas giants, after which it will land on Pluto. In theory, the shuttle, which will be launched into the atmosphere of this dwarf planet, will reach the surface and will be able to take samples of air and ice. After all, there are no chemical elements destructive for technology, like on Jupiter, there.