DETECTION OF GASEOUS METHANE ON PLUTO

Authors
YOUNG LA ELLIOT JL TOKUNAGA A DEBERGH C OWEN T
Citation
La. Young et al., DETECTION OF GASEOUS METHANE ON PLUTO, Icarus, 127(1), 1997, pp. 258-262
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal title
Icarus → ACNP
ISSN journal
00191035
Volume
127
Issue
1
Year of publication
1997
Pages
258 - 262
Database
ISI
SICI code
0019-1035(1997)127:1<258:DOGMOP>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
We obtained Pluto's spectrum using the CSHELL echelle spectrograph at NASA's IRTF on Mauna Kea, on 25-26 May 1992, with a spectral resolutio n of 13.300., The spectral range (5998-6018 cm(-1), or 1661.8-1666.9 n m) includes the R(0) and the Q(1)-Q(9) lines of the 2 nu(3) band of me thane. The resulting spectrum shows the first detection of gaseous met hane on Pluto, with a column height of 1.20(-0.87)(+3.15) cm-A (3.22(- 2.34)(+8.46) x 10(19) molecule cm(-2)). (C) 1997 Academic Press.