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IRAS constraints on the sizes of Pluto and Charon

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Abstract

Recent mutual eclipse events have begun to yield information on the sizes of Pluto and Charon. Their detection by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) during its sky survey has provided an important additional constraint. Here we report how models of their thermal emission indicate that Charon contributes a significant amount of the observed infrared radiation. The most probable diameters for Pluto and Charon are 2,200 and 1,300 (±150) km. These results are consistent with there being some atmosphere on Pluto.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, 91109, USA

    Edward F. Tedesco, Glenn J. Veeder Jr & R. Scott Dunbar

  2. Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA

    Larry A. Lebofsky

Authors
  1. Edward F. Tedesco
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  2. Glenn J. Veeder Jr
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  3. R. Scott Dunbar
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  4. Larry A. Lebofsky
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Tedesco, E., Veeder Jr, G., Dunbar, R. et al. IRAS constraints on the sizes of Pluto and Charon. Nature 327, 127–129 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/327127a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/327127a0

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