INTRODUCTION
- According to a new study, Pluto’s atmosphere is undergoing dramatic changes and is vanishing. The atmosphere of the cold dwarf planet is mostly nitrogen.
- In the Kuiper Belt, the dwarf planet is roughly 4.8 billion kilometres from Earth. Years ago, it had lost its planet status. When it passed in front of a star in 2018, it allegedly drew the attention of experts.
- Pluto’s atmosphere is undergoing a remarkable change, according to astronomers.
IMPORTANT POINTS –
- A team of researchers was able to make measurements of the dwarf planet and its atmosphere with the star illuminating the dwarf planet.
- The researchers discovered evidence that Pluto’s atmosphere is vanishing.
- They used telescopes at several locations in Mexico and the United States to study the dwarf planet’s tiny atmosphere.
- Pluto’s atmosphere, like Earth’s, is mainly nitrogen-based. The vapour pressure of ices on the dwarf planet’s surface supports its atmosphere.
- As a result, if the ice heats up, the density of its atmosphere would change drastically, according to the researchers.
- Southwest Research Institute researchers conducted the investigation (SwRI).
REASON OF DISAPPEARANCE OF PLUTO’S ATMOSPHERE –
- Pluto, according to the experts, is becoming increasingly chilly. Pluto has been drifting farther and farther away from the sun for the past 25 years, receiving less and less sunlight and lowering its surface temperature.
- The dwarf planet’s atmosphere is refreezing back onto its surface as it moves further away from the Sun, according to the researchers.
- Pluto’s surface air density and pressure continued to grow until the year 2018 owing to a phenomena known as thermal inertia.
- The dwarf planet retained heat from its previous proximity to the sun. The inertia, though, is starting to wear off, and as Pluto becomes colder, more of its atmosphere will freeze back onto its surface and “disappear,” according to the experts.
