Pluto's atmosphere - the most mysterious air environment of the solar system.Firstly, because it is as if torn off from the surface, separated vacuo.Some of its particles reach Charon.Secondly, its average density is several times higher than the density of the Earth's atmosphere.However, the gas from which it is, alas, are not suitable for mankind.And thirdly, the atmosphere of the planet Pluto - a phenomenon variable.Given its density and weight 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 offer to plunge into his world.
Where to find the nine planets?
Pluto - ninth object from the Sun, which is included in the category of dwarf planets SS.Literally in the last century, he held the place of honor on the outermost planet of our star.It was later discovered that the object is part of the Kuiper Belt, and its parameters, even less than some other dumb dwarf planets that are in the asteroid belt.Pluto's orbit - 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 to the Sun, it is more clearly visible in telescopes.During this period, there is also great the atmosphere of Pluto.Initially, it was proved the existence of a hypothetical way, but later failed to consider air envelope through optics.
open atmosphere
The planet Pluto was discovered only recently - in 1930.She recorded the ninth as the rightful object of the SS and if you forget about it for a while.In the 80 years of observation of the planet resumed.Most of the pictures were obtained thanks to the Hubble telescope, which opened to us the mysteries of the cosmos.In 1985 he was first discovered Pluto's atmosphere.The composition of the air bag failed to establish mathematically, since it was not possible to launch the shuttle for taking air samples.Parallel to this has been studied, and the planet's surface.It turned out that it consists of crystalline dry ice consisting of hydrogen and the water.Despite the fact that the planet is solid, like Earth, it is the surface evaporates, forms a layer of air.Because the composition of these two components is identical to that to a large extent it makes the work easier astronomers.
component chemistry
Before proceeding to the study of properties and interactions of various gases in space, look at what is in the atmosphere of Pluto.It's pretty thick shell, the width of which is 3000 kilometers.Its basis is nitrogen - it occupies 99% of the airspace.It accounted for 0.9 percent carbon monoxide with the remainder being methane.All these gases are hovering around the planet because they evaporate from the ice covering its surface.Over time, the process of evaporation increases in scale, thereby increasing and the atmosphere of Pluto.Its composition, however, remains the same, but the sublimation takes a more global scale.This entails an increase in temperature of a celestial body, as well as strengthening its gravitational field.Perhaps in the future, which can not be compared with human life, Pluto will be habitable planet.
Air summer jacket Pluto
We have said that we are now looking into the telescope on Pluto can see how it goes the summer.During this period, the planet closest to the Sun and the great warming.That's when a gaseous atmosphere of Pluto, which is the earth, and the researchers were able to see through a telescope.In summer, because of the greenhouse effect, which occurs under the influence of sunlight, evaporation occurs.Only then the ice surface is not transformed into the water, and once in gas, since gravity on Pluto is missing.This gas, consisting largely of nitrogen, rises a giant mono cloud over the planet, even coming off a bit of it and form a so-called vacuum layer.Some molecules of nitrogen and methane are able to reach the surface of Charon.With this year to the greenhouse effect, in fact, it was proved the existence of Pluto's atmosphere.Scientists have noticed that the planet has no clear outlines, and is in the depths like a big cloud.A more detailed examination of all the above facts have been established.
Winter in the realm of cold
If humanity has reached the heights of today's technology 200 years ago, prove the existence of Pluto's atmosphere would be impossible.In the period when the dwarf planet moves away from the Sun, all the gases that hovered over it in the summer, returned to the surface and become part of the glacier from which they disappeared at the beginning of last season.In this case Pluto looks completely "naked", and its outlines are clearly visible in the telescope, as it is not obscured aerial shell.
air temperature in various layers of the atmosphere
We've learned that the air environment of the Earth cools down as the distance from the surface, and many believe that all the planets, things are exactly the same.But this is not the case, and a clear example of this is the atmosphere of Pluto.The surface of the planet is incredibly cold - 231 degrees below zero.This is the index of the character and for the lower layer of the atmosphere.As the distance from the eternal glaciers that cover Pluto temperature rises.In the upper atmosphere we have already seen rate -173 degrees, which, in principle, normal for the space environment.Moreover, there is a striking paradox here.In summer, when the gases are separated from the world, due to the sublimation of the surface cools down even more.This so-called anti-greenhouse effect.In winter, due to the fact that the gases disappear, and Pluto is exposed to direct sunlight, eternal glaciers a little heated.
Sky Pluto
Due to the fact that the gravitational field of the dwarf planet is too small, it does not keep the atmosphere around him.Those gases that evaporate from the surface are removed, no way to protect the planet from the effects of space radiation and asteroids.But even if the steam mixture of nitrogen and carbon monoxide could linger on the crust of Pluto, to live in such conditions, people clearly could not.Due to the absence of hydrogen, and also because of the extremely low density of the space, the atmosphere of Pluto as possible low.This means that there can not form a separate layer, which will change the color of the sky, depending on time of day.Because, in theory, being on Pluto, you can not tell day from night.Always in front of you will turn black sphere, where bright flashes will occur distant stars and flying past the planet.
Conclusion
Now astronomers are most interesting, what the atmosphere of Pluto really is.Are their calculations and observations are accurate and whether they agree with reality?There are plans to launch a satellite that will be able to overcome the orbits of gas giants, and then land on Pluto.The idea is that the shuttle to be launched into the atmosphere of the dwarf planet, reaches the surface and will be able to take samples of air and ice.After all, no disruptive technology for chemical elements, like Jupiter, are not there.
