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Science 19 November 1976:
Vol. 194. no. 4267, pp. 835 - 837
DOI: 10.1126/science.194.4267.835-a
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Articles

Pluto: Evidence for Methane Frost

Infrared photometry (1.2 to 2.2 micrometers) of Pluto provides evidence for frozen methane on the surface of the planet. This appears to be the first observational indication of this ice in the solar system. Its presence on Pluto suggests that the planet's albedo (reflectance) may be ge 0.4 and that its diameter may be less than that of the moon.

Submitted on June 25, 1976
Revised on September 3, 1976


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Surface Ices and the Atmospheric Composition of Pluto.
T. C. Owen, T. C. Owen, T. L. Roush, D. P. Cruikshank, J. L. Elliot, L. A. Young, C. de Bergh, B. Schmitt, T. R. Geballe, R. H. Brown, et al. (1993)
Science 261, 745-748
   Abstract »    PDF »
Spectrophotometry of Pluto-Charon Mutual Events: Individual Spectra of Pluto and Charon.
S. R. Sawyer, S. R. SAWYER, E. S. BARKER, A. L. COCHRAN, and W. D. COCHRAN (1987)
Science 238, 1560-1563
   Abstract »    PDF »
IRAS Serendipitous Survey Observations of Pluto and Charon.
M. V. Sykes, M. V. SYKES, R. M. CUTRI, L. A. LEBOFSKY, and R. P. BINZEL (1987)
Science 237, 1336-1340
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Surface Composition of Charon: Tentative Identification of Water Ice.
R. L. Marcialis, R. L. MARCIALIS, G. H. RIEKE, and L. A. LEBOFSKY (1987)
Science 237, 1349-1351
   Abstract »    PDF »
Fast Ion Bombardment of Ices and Its Astrophysical Implications.
W. L. Brown, L. J. Lanzerotti, and R. E. Johnson (1982)
Science 218, 525-531
   Abstract »    PDF »
Uranus: The Rings Are Black.
W. M. Sinton and W. M. SINTON (1977)
Science 198, 503-504
   Abstract »    PDF »


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