NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0488
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0488 |
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PI: Leslie Young, Southwest Research Institute, layoung@boulder.swri.edu
Address: Department of Space Studies, 1050 Walnut St, Suite 300, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
CoI: Henry Roe, Lowell Observatory
CoI: Eliot Young, Southwest Research Institute
CoI: Jason Cook, Southwest Research Institute
Title: Pluto's Atmospheric CH_4: Variations in time, space, and altitude
Abstract: We propose observations of gaseous methane on Pluto at three specific sub-observer longitudes to (1) establish a baseline for temporal change, (2) search for spatial variability in gaseous methane, and (3) refine the vertical distribution of gaseous CH_4. The three longitudes, separated by roughly 120\deg, correspond to the longitudes of maximum CH_4 frost, minimum CH_4 frost, and maximum ratio of nearly pure to highly diluted CH_4 frost. These three terrains may produce detectable differences in the gaseous CH_4.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0488 |
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