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Effect of irradiation on the surface of Pluto
Author(s) -
Johnson R. E.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl016i011p01233
Subject(s) - pluto , astrobiology , atmosphere (unit) , methane , regolith , irradiation , precipitation , cosmic ray , atmospheric escape , atmospheric sciences , astrophysics , materials science , physics , chemistry , meteorology , nuclear physics , organic chemistry , mars exploration program
The surface of Pluto is exposed to cosmic ray particles which slowly alter the reflectance of the condensed methane and the UV absorbed in the atmosphere may produce precipitates. Depending on the rates of the competing regolith processes and the rate of replenishment of the methane the surface can appear bright, ‘red‧, or ‘dark‧. Here the relevant laboratory data show that, in the absence of any local particle precipitation, the amount of darkening occurring in one orbit is small.