Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Large changes in Pluto's atmosphere as revealed by recent stellar occultations

Nature volume 424, pages 168–170 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Pluto's tenuous nitrogen atmosphere was first detected by the imprint left on the light curve of a star that was occulted by the planet in 1985 (ref. 1), and studied more extensively during a second occultation event in 1988 (refs 2–6). These events are, however, quite rare and Pluto's atmosphere remains poorly understood, as in particular the planet has not yet been visited by a spacecraft. Here we report data from the first occultations by Pluto since 1988. We find that, during the intervening 14 years, there seems to have been a doubling of the atmospheric pressure, a probable seasonal effect on Pluto.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Dimming of the stars P126 (20 July 2002) and P131.1 (21 August 2002) during their occultations by Pluto's atmosphere.
Figure 2: Temperature and pressure profiles of Pluto's atmosphere derived from the inversion of the P131.1 light curve.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brosch, N. The 1985 stellar occultation by Pluto. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 276, 571–578 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Hubbard, W. B., Hunten, D. M., Dieters, S. W., Hill, K. M. & Watson, R. D. Occultation evidence for an atmosphere on Pluto. Nature 336, 452–454 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Elliot, J. L. et al. Pluto's atmosphere. Icarus 77, 148–170 (1989)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Elliot, J. L. & Young, L. A. Analysis of stellar occultation data for planetary atmospheres. I. Model fitting, with application to Pluto. Astron. J. 103, 991–1051 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Millis, R. L. et al. Pluto's radius and atmosphere—Results from the entire 9 June 1998 occultation data set. Icarus 105, 282–297 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Yelle, R. V. & Elliot, J. L. in Pluto and Charon (eds Stern, S. A. & Tholen, D. J.) 347–390 (Univ. Arizona Press, Tucson, 1997)

    Google Scholar 

  7. McDonald, S. W. & Elliot, J. L. Pluto-Charon stellar occultation candidates: 2000-2009. Astron. J. 119, 1999–2007 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. McDonald, S. W. & Elliot, J. L. Erratum: “Pluto-Charon stellar occultation candidates: 2000-2009”. Astron. J. 120, 1599–1602 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Elliot, J. L. et al. The recent expansion of Pluto's atmosphere. Nature 424, 165–168 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lellouch, E. et al. Pluto's non-isothermal surface. Icarus 147, 220–250 (2000)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Grundy, W. M. & Buie, M. W. Distribution and evolution of CH4, N2 and CO ices on Pluto's surface: 1995 to 1998. Icarus 153, 248–263 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Yelle, R. V. & Lunine, J. I. Evidence for a molecule heavier than methane in the atmosphere of Pluto. Nature 339, 288–290 (1989)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Strobel, D. F., Zhu, X., Summers, M. E. & Stevens, M. H. On the vertical thermal structure of Pluto's atmosphere. Icarus 120, 266–289 (1996)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Stanberry, J. A., Lunine, J. I., Hubbard, W. B., Yelle, R. V. & Hunten, D. M. Mirages and the nature of Pluto's atmosphere. Icarus 111, 503–513 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hansen, C. J. & Paige, D. A. Seasonal nitrogen cycles on Pluto. Icarus 120, 247–265 (1996)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Spencer, J. R., et al. in Pluto and Charon (eds Stern, S. A. & Tholen, D. J.) 435–475 (Univ. Arizona Press, Tucson, 1997)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sicardy, B. et al. The structure of Titan's atmosphere from the 28 Sgr occultation. Icarus 142, 357–390 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Null, G. W. & Owen, W. M. Jr Charon/Pluto mass ratio obtained with HST CCD observations in 1991 and 1993. Astron. J. 111, 1368–1381 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the Conseil Scientifique of Paris Observatory and the Programme National de Planétologie for supporting part of the observations of the P126 event in South America. We are grateful to C. Angeli, A. Bruch and D. Lazzaro, who made possible the observational campaign in Brazil, and to W. B. Hubbard for constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatoire de Paris, LESIA, 92195, Meudon, France

    B. Sicardy, T. Widemann, E. Lellouch, F. Roques, E. Gendron, F. Lacombe, J. Lecacheux, C. Leyrat, E. Raynaud & S. Renner

  2. Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France

    B. Sicardy

  3. Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Waimea, Hawaii, 96743, USA

    C. Veillet & J.-C. Cuillandre

  4. Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE, 75014, Paris, France

    F. Colas & A. Fienga

  5. International Occultation Timing Association, European Section, 30459, Hanover, Germany

    W. Beisker & M. Kretlow

  6. Observatoire de Grenoble, 38041, Grenoble, France

    A.-M. Lagrange

  7. Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, 75930, Paris, France

    C. Birnbaum

  8. Gene Shoemaker Observatory, Casilla 21, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

    A. Maury

  9. Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, 75014, Paris, France

    M. Schultheis

  10. European Southern Observatory, Alonso de Córdova 3107, Casilla, 19001, 19, Santiago, Chile

    K. Brooks, A. Delsanti, O. R. Hainaut, R. Gilmozzi, C. Lidman & J. Spyromilio

  11. Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers, 33270, Floirac, France

    M. Rapaport

  12. Universidad de Los Andes, Facultad de Ciencias, 5101, Mérida, Venezuela

    P. Rosenzweig, O. Naranjo, L. Porras, F. Díaz & H. Calderón

  13. Cumbaya, 1722, Quito, Ecuador

    S. Carrillo, A. Carvajal & E. Recalde

  14. Asociación Eta Carinae, 1, Lima, Peru

    L. Gaviria Cavero & C. Montalvo

  15. Observatório Cerro Armazones, Universidad Católica del Norte, 1280, Antofagasta, Chile

    D. Barría

  16. Laboratório Nacional de Astrofísica, 37504-364, Itajubà, Brazil

    R. Campos

  17. Observatório Nacional, 20921-400, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    R. Duffard

  18. Complejo Astronómico, El Leoncito, CP J5402DSP, San Juan, Argentina

    H. Levato

Authors
  1. B. Sicardy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Widemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Lellouch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. Veillet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J.-C. Cuillandre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. F. Colas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. F. Roques
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. W. Beisker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. M. Kretlow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. A.-M. Lagrange
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. E. Gendron
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. F. Lacombe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. J. Lecacheux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. C. Birnbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. A. Fienga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. C. Leyrat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. A. Maury
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. E. Raynaud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. S. Renner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. M. Schultheis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  21. K. Brooks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  22. A. Delsanti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  23. O. R. Hainaut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  24. R. Gilmozzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  25. C. Lidman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  26. J. Spyromilio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  27. M. Rapaport
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  28. P. Rosenzweig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  29. O. Naranjo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  30. L. Porras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  31. F. Díaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  32. H. Calderón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  33. S. Carrillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  34. A. Carvajal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  35. E. Recalde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  36. L. Gaviria Cavero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  37. C. Montalvo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  38. D. Barría
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  39. R. Campos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  40. R. Duffard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  41. H. Levato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Sicardy.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sicardy, B., Widemann, T., Lellouch, E. et al. Large changes in Pluto's atmosphere as revealed by recent stellar occultations. Nature 424, 168–170 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01766

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01766

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing