Pluto:
Permanent Ice Age
The weather is downright
balmy on Pluto right now. Comparatively speaking, of course.
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Pluto's surface, as a brave adventurer might see it. The view is toward
the Sun. Pluto's suspected thin atmosphere is depicted as a layer of haze
close to the horizon.
IMAGE: David Seal,
NASA/JPL/Caltech
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You see, the tiniest planet
in the solar system carves a ridiculous orbit, which ranges from as 2.8 billion
miles (4.5 billion kilometers) away from the Sun to as far as 4.6 billion miles
(7.4 billion kilometers). Its average distance is 39 times farther from the Sun
than we are.
In late 1989, Pluto reached
its closest point to the Sun in this 248-year elliptical trek. It hadn't been
this close since George Washington first wielded an axe.
As a result, the
temperature on the surface is a relatively pleasant minus 350 degrees
Fahrenheit (minus 212 degrees Celsius) these days. Forecast: It's getting
colder.
Scientists think that
during these glorious days of summer, Pluto "launders" its surface by
evaporating old, dirty ice. When winter arrives, a fresh layer of ice will be
deposited. But not all areas of Pluto are so warm today. Some regions, where
the ice is thick, may be minus 380 degrees F (minus 228 degrees C).
Okay, fine. It's utterly
frigid. At least there's no wind.
Well ...
You might be thinking that
Pluto has no atmosphere, but scientists say it does have just enough gravity to
retain a little nitrogen gas, not to mention smaller amounts of carbon monoxide
and methane. And the pressure gulf resulting from the tremendous temperature
difference is thought to create high winds in Pluto's tenuous atmosphere.
Even Amundsen would turn
back.
Other news about weather in our solar system
Venus:
No Lightning, But a Strange Green Glow
Jupiter:
Cassini Snaps Earth-like Weather
Jupiter:
Cassini Makes First Color Movie of Clouds
Titan:
Earth-Like Weather and Methane Rain
The Sun: Space
Weather
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