文章基本信息

标题：Evidence for Possible Clouds in Pluto’s Present-day Atmosphere
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作者：S. A. Stern ; J. A. Kammer ; E. L. Barth 等
期刊名称：The Astronomical journal
印刷版ISSN：0004-6256
电子版ISSN：1538-3881
出版年度：2017
卷号：154
期号：2
页码：1-15
DOI：10.3847/1538-3881/aa78ec
语种：English
出版社：American Institute of Physics
摘要：Several trace constituents can reach saturation vapor pressure in Pluto's present-day atmosphere (PDA). As such, we describe a search for discrete cloud features in Pluto's atmosphere using New Horizons data obtained on 2015 July 14–15, during the Pluto flyby closest approach. We report that the PDA is at least largely (>99% by surface area) free of discrete clouds. We also report a handful of features that may plausibly be clouds, all of which were detected obliquely and at high-phase-angle observing geometry. No cloud candidates were identified away from the terminators or in low-phase (backscattering geometry) images.
关键词：Kuiper belt: general ; planets and satellites: atmospheres