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Puto's atmosphere contains a thin layer of gas surrounding the planet. It is mainly composed of nitrogen (N2) and small amounts of methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO), which are all vaporized from their ice on the surface of Pluto. It contains layers of fog, probably made up of heavier compounds that form from these gases due to high energy radiation.
Pluto takes 248 Earth years to curl orbit around the Sun. Unlike the Earth, the weather conditions are different. Yet he knows four seasons.
Now, a new study suggests that Pluto's atmosphere could collapse completely and freeze by 2030 due to winter. Scientists suggest that the winter of Pluto is only ten years away and that once started, the atmosphere heavily loaded with nitrogen could collapse completely and fall, transforming itself. in a layer of solid hoarfrost.
Every 248 years, Pluto performs another orbit around the sun. This long orbit and its great distance from the star mean that the surface temperature is between minus 378 and minus 396 degrees Fahrenheit.
A study recently shared data on Pluto's atmosphere collected between 1988 and 2016. Scientists used this data to model Pluto's seasons and their reaction to the amount of sunlight it receives at different times in the world. its orbit. The researchers were able to record the evolution of surface pressure during the seasons on Pluto. This allowed to paint a complete picture of the atmosphere, including density, pressure and temperature.
Andrew Cole, author of the study, associate professor at the University of Tasmania's Faculty of Natural Sciences, said, "We have found that when Pluto is far away from the Sun and during its winter in the Northern Hemisphere, nitrogen freezes from the atmosphere. The atmospheric pressure has tripled in the last three decades, but as the planet is in orbit, our modeling has shown that most of the atmosphere would condense almost completely. Forecasts show that by 2030, the atmosphere will freeze and disappear all over the planet. "
Scientists gathered these data when they observed ground occultations of stars as planets passed in front of stars in the background. This allows scientists to measure the amount of stellar light absorbed by the planet's atmosphere.
Cole said, "These observations are delicate. Telescopes must be placed in the right place to capture when a path traced by the shadow of the planet also passes over a point on the Earth. It only lasts a minute or two.
"If the atmosphere of Pluto collapses and freezes, the dwarf planet may look brighter in our sky because it will reflect more sunlight."
"The striking red terrain that we see in the images of New Horizons could fade if it is covered with snow under the nitrogen freeze. This research has been crucial in deepening our understanding of Pluto and testing what we know about atmospheres, ice and climate under extreme conditions. "
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