Pluto's atmosphere is the most mysterious air shell of the Solar System. Firstly, because it seems to be cut off from the surface, separated by vacuum. Some of its particles reach Charon. Secondly, its average density is several times higher than the density of the Earth's atmosphere. However, the gases of 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 is able to evaporate during the so-called "summer" on the planet. If you are interested in these and many other phenomena that occur on Pluto, we offer you to plunge into its world.
Where to look for the ninth planet?
Pluto is the ninth object from the Sun, which is included in the category of SS dwarf planets. Literally in the last century, he occupied the place of honor of the planet most distant from our star. Later it was discovered that the object is part of the Kuiper belt, and in terms of its parameters it is even slightly smaller than some of the other dwarf planets that are in this asteroid ring. The orbit of Pluto is the largest in our system, because a complete revolution around the Sun here lasts 248 Earth years. In our era, astronomers have the opportunity to observe the Plutonian summer. This fact is also positive because the planet is as close as possible to the Sun, it is more clearly visible in telescopes. During this period, the atmosphere of Pluto is also perfectly observed. Initially, its existence was proven hypothetically, but later it was possible to consider the air shell thanks to optics.
Opening the atmosphere
The planet Pluto itself was discovered quite recently - in 1930. She was recorded as the ninth full-fledged object of the SS and seemed to have been forgotten about for a while. In the 1980s, observations of the planet resumed. Most of the pictures were taken thanks to the Hubble telescope, which revealed to us the secrets of space. In 1985, the atmosphere of Pluto was first discovered. The composition of the air shell could be determined mathematically, since it was not possible to launch a 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 that, evaporating, forms an air gap. Because the composition of these two components is identical, which greatly makes the work of astronomers easier.
Component Chemistry
Before we move on to studying the properties and interactions of various gases in space, let's consider what Pluto's atmosphere consists of. It's quite a thick shell, the widthwhich is equal to 3,000 kilometers. It is based on nitrogen - it occupies 99% of all airspace. 0.9 percent is carbon monoxide and the remainder is methane. All these gases hover around the planet because they evaporate from the ice that covers its surface. Over time, the evaporation process increases in scale, due to which the atmosphere of Pluto also grows. At the same time, its composition remains the same, 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 a future that cannot be compared to human life, Pluto will become a habitable planet.
Pluto's air shell in summer
We have already said that now, looking through a telescope at Pluto, we can see how summer passes there. During this period, the planet is as close as possible to the Sun and warms up great. It was at this moment that the gaseous atmosphere of Pluto was formed, which earthly researchers were able to see through telescopes. In summer, due to the greenhouse effect, which occurs under the influence of sunlight, evaporation occurs. Only here the surface ice is transformed not into water, but immediately into gas, since there is no gravity on Pluto. This gas, which consists mostly of nitrogen, rises in a giant mono-cloud above the planet, even slightly breaking away from it and forming the so-called vacuum layer. Some molecules of nitrogen and methane are able to reach the surface of Charon. Thanks to this summer greenhouseeffect, in fact, the presence of the atmosphere of Pluto was proved. Scientists have noticed that the planet does not have a clear outline, but is located as if in the abyss of a large cloud. Upon closer examination, all the above facts were established.
Winter in the realm of cold
If humanity had reached today's technological heights 200 years ago, proving the presence of Pluto's atmosphere would have been unrealistic. During the period when the dwarf planet moves away from the Sun, all the gases that hovered over it in the summer return to the surface and become part of the glaciers from which they evaporated at the beginning of the past season. In this case, Pluto looks completely "bare", and its outlines are clearly visible through the telescope, as they are not obscured by the air shell.
Air temperature in different layers of the atmosphere
We are used to the fact that the Earth's air shell cools as we move away from the surface, and many believe that things are the same on all planets. But this is not at all the case, and the atmosphere of Pluto is a clear example of this. The surface of the planet itself is incredibly cold - 231 degrees below zero. It is this indicator that is typical for the lower layer of the atmosphere. As you move away from the eternal glaciers that cover Pluto, the temperature rises. In the upper layers of the atmosphere, we already meet an indicator of -173 degrees, which, in principle, is normal for the space environment. Moreover, there is a striking paradox here. In summer, when the gases are separated from the planet, fordue 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 heat up a little.
Pluto Sky
Due to the fact that the gravitational field of this dwarf planet is too small, it does not hold the atmosphere around it. 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 vapor mixtures of nitrogen and carbon monoxide could linger over Pluto's crust, a person would definitely not be able to live in such conditions. Due to the absence of hydrogen, and also due to the extremely low density of space, Pluto's atmosphere is extremely rarefied. This means that a special layer cannot form here either, which will change the color of the sky depending on the time of day. Therefore, theoretically, being on Pluto, you will not distinguish day from night. A black sphere will constantly rotate in front of you, on which distant stars and passing planets will appear with bright flashes.
Conclusion
Now astronomers are most interested in what kind of atmosphere Pluto actually has. Are their calculations and observations accurate, and to what extent do they agree with reality? In the near future, it is planned to launch a satellite that will be able to overcome the orbits of gas giants, after which it will land on Pluto. In theory, the shuttle that will be launched into the atmosphere of this dwarf planet will reachsurface and be able to take air and ice samples. After all, there are no chemical elements destructive for technology, as on Jupiter, there.
