Regular ArticleEvidence for Methane Segregation at the Surface of Pluto
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Pluto's Sputnik Planitia: Composition of geological units from infrared spectroscopy
2021, IcarusCitation Excerpt :As proven by previous work (e.g. Protopapa et al., 2017; Schmitt et al., 2017), CH4 is ubiquitous within Sputnik Planitia. It can either be diluted within N2-rich ice, or it can be a pure endmember (Douté et al., 1999; Young et al., 2018). We considered optical constants of CH4 ice diluted in N2 ice from Protopapa et al. (2015), and pure CH4 ice optical constants from Grundy et al. (2002).
Physical state and distribution of materials at the surface of Pluto from New Horizons LEISA imaging spectrometer
2017, IcarusCitation Excerpt :These three molecules form a molecular mixture with variable geographic and stratigraphic abundances. Douté et al. (1999) found evidence for the presence of two methane phases: diluted methane (∼0.5%) in solid nitrogen, along with 0.1–0.2% CO, coexisting with a CH4-rich phase that contains small amounts of diluted N2 and CO. These phases are distributed as segregated patches across the surface or as a segregated layer on top of the CH4-poor phase, or a combination of both (Douté et al., 1999; Olkin et al., 2007; Merlin et al., 2010; Merlin, 2015).
- 1
Present address: Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. UCLA, 405 Hilgard, Box 951567, Los Angeles, CA 90095.
- 2
Present address: Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble, Bât. D de Physique, B.P. 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
- 3
Present address: Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, Bat 121, Université Paris XI, 91405 Orsay, France.
- 4
Guest observer, United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, Joint Astronomy Center, Hawaii, USA.
- 5
Present address: Gemini Observatory, 670 North A'ohoku Place, University Park, Hilo, HI 96720.