Astronomers Spot an Atmosphere Around a World Beyond Pluto

Astronomers spot an atmosphere around a world beyond Pluto

A new study suggests that a tiny, icy world beyond Pluto harbors a thin, delicate atmosphere that may have been created by volcanic eruptions or a comet strike. ...Keep on reading: Astronomers spot an atmosphere around a world beyond Pluto

Pluto-like world’s thin atmosphere poses a mystery

Scientists are puzzling over another oddball on the edge of the solar system: This time, it’s an icy object less than a quarter of Pluto’s size with a thin atmosphere – a layer of gas that’s not typically found around objects so small. A Japanese team of researchers — including an amateur astronomer — laid out the curious case of 2002 XV93 this week in the journal Nature Astronomy. 2002 XV93 traces an elliptical path beyond the orbit of Neptune …

This tiny outer Solar System world has an atmosphere. It shouldn’t

Astronomers have spotted something surprising in the far outer Solar System—a faint, short-lived atmosphere clinging to a tiny icy world that shouldn’t be able to hold one at all. The object, called 2002XV93, is far smaller than Pluto, yet observations during a rare stellar alignment revealed its presence through a subtle dimming of starlight. Even more puzzling, calculations suggest this atmosphere should vanish within about 1,000 years unless …

The First Detection Of An Atmosphere On A Trans-Neptunian Object Beyond Pluto - Astrobiology

Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) in the outer Solar System are predominantly small, icy worlds long presumed to be atmosphereless except for the largest bodies. Until now, Pluto has been unique among TNOs in exhibiting a substantial atmosphere (nitrogen with trace methane and carbon monoxide) at microbar pressure levels. All other known TNOs, including ~ 1000-km-sized bodies […] The post The First Detection Of An Atmosphere On A Trans-Neptunian Ob…