NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011A-0301
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011A-0301 |
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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, NASA Ames
Title: Pluto's Atmospheric CH_4: Variations in time, space, and altitude
Abstract: We propose observations of gaseous methane on Pluto with GNIRS+AO 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 minimum CH_4 frost, maximum CH_4 frost, and maximum ratio of nearly pure to highly diluted CH_4 frost. These three terrains are expected to produce detectable differences in the gaseous CH_4. These observations will provide a temporal and spatial context in which to place the New Horizons encounter with Pluto in 2015.
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 > 2011A-0301 |
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