ScholarLens Back to search
2016•ScienceOpen access

Pluto’s interaction with its space environment: Solar wind, energetic particles, and dust

F. Bagenal, M. Horányi, David J. McComas, R. L. McNutt, H. A. Elliott, M. E. Hill, L. E. Brown, P. A. Delamere, P. Kollmann, Stamatios Mike Krimigis, Martha B. Kusterer, C. M. Lisse, D. G. Mitchell, Marcus Piquette, Andrew Reinhold Poppe, Darrell F. Strobel, Jamey R. Szalay, P. W. Valek, J. D. Vandegriff, S. E. Weidner, E. J. Zirnstein, S. A. Stern, Kimberly Ennico, Catherine B. Olkin, H. A. Weaver, L. A. Young, New Horizons Science Team, G. R. Gladstone, W. M. Grundy, W. B. McKinnon, J. M. Moore, John R. Spencer, T. Andert, J. Andrews, M. E. Banks, Brian A. Bauer, J. Bauman, O. S. Barnouin, Peter D. Bedini, Klaus Beisser, Ross A. Beyer, S. Bhaskaran, Richard P. Binzel, Emma Birath, M. K. Bird, Denis J. Bogan, Alice F. Bowman, V. J. Bray, M. Brozović, A. J. Ryan, M. R. Buckley, M. W. Buie, B. J. Buratti, Stewart S. Bushman, Andrew B. Calloway, Brian T. Carcich, ANDREW F. CHENG, Steven J. Conard, C. A. Conrad, J. C. Cook, D. P. Cruikshank, O. S. Custodio, C. M. Dalle Ore, Christopher C. DeBoy, Zach Dischner, P. Dumont, Alissa M. Earle, Jack Ercol, C. M. Ernst, Tiffany J. Finley, S. H. Flanigan, Glen H. Fountain, M. J. Freeze, T. K. Greathouse, James Green, Yanping Guo, Michaela Hahn, D. P. Hamilton, Sarah A. Hamilton, John J. Hanley, Ann P. Harch, Helen M. Hart, Chris B. Hersman, A. Hill, D. P. Hinson, Mark E. Holdridge, A. D. Howard, Carly J. A. Howett, C. Jackman, Robert A. Jacobson, Donald E. Jennings, Joshua A. Kammer, H. K. Kang, D. E. Kaufmann, David Y. Kusnierkiewicz, Tod R. Lauer, J. E. Lee, K. L. Lindstrom, I. Linscott, Allen W. Lunsford, V. A. Mallder, N. Martin, Douglas S. Mehoke, Thomas S. Mehoke, E. D. Melin, Max J. Mutchler, Derek S. Nelson, F. Nimmo, Jorge I. Núñez, A. Ocampo, W. M. Owen, Martin Patzold, Brian R. Page, A. Parker, Joel Wm. Parker, F. Pelletier, J. E. Peterson, N. Pinkine, Simon B. Porter, Silvia Protopapa, Jillian Redfern, Harold J. Reitsema, Dennis C. Reuter, J. H. Roberts, Stuart James Robbins, Gabe D. Rogers, D. Rose, Kirby Daniel Runyon, K. D. Retherford, Michael G. Ryschkewitsch, P. Schenk, Eric R. Schindhelm, B. Sepan, Mark R. Showalter, K. N. Singer, M. Soluri, Dale R. Stanbridge, A. J. Steffl, Ted Stryk, M. E. Summers, Mike Tapley, Anthony H. Taylor, Howard W. Taylor, H. B. Throop, C. C. C. Tsang, G. Len Tyler, O.M. Umurhan, Anne J. Verbiscer, Maarten H. Versteeg, Michael A. Vincent, R. Webbert, Gerald E. Weigle, Oliver Luke White, Karl Whittenburg, B. G. Williams, Kenneth E. Williams, S. Williams, W. W. Woods, A. M. Zangari

Open full text 71 citations

Abstract

New Horizons unveils the Pluto system In July 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft flew through the Pluto system at high speed, humanity's first close look at this enigmatic system on the outskirts of our solar system. In a series of papers, the New Horizons team present their analysis of the encounter data downloaded so far: Moore et al. present the complex surface features and geology of Pluto and its large moon Charon, including evidence of tectonics, glacial flow, and possible cryovolcanoes. Grundy et al. analyzed the colors and chemical compositions of their surfaces, with ices of H 2 O, CH 4 , CO, N 2 , and NH 3 and a reddish material which may be tholins. Gladstone et al. investigated the atmosphere of Pluto, which is colder and more compact than expected and hosts numerous extensive layers of haze. Weaver et al. examined the small moons Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra, which are irregularly shaped, fast-rotating, and have bright surfaces. Bagenal et al. report how Pluto modifies its space environment, including interactions with the solar wind and a lack of dust in the system. Together, these findings massively increase our understanding of the bodies in the outer solar system. They will underpin the analysis of New Horizons data, which will continue for years to come. Science , this issue pp. 1284 , 10.1126/science.aad9189 , 10.1126/science.aad8866 , 10.1126/science.aae0030 , & 10.1126/science.aad9045

Open-access reader

About this research paper

What this paper is about

New Horizons unveils the Pluto system In July 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft flew through the Pluto system at high speed, humanity's first close look at this enigmatic system on the outskirts of our solar system. In a series of papers, the New Horizons team present their analysis of the encounter data downloaded so far: Moore et al. present the complex surface features and geology of Pluto and its large moon Charon, including evidence of tectonics, glacial flow, and possible cryovolcanoes. Grundy et al. analyzed the colors and chemical compositions of their surfaces, with ices of H 2 O, CH 4 , CO, N 2 , and NH 3 and a reddish material which may be tholins. Gladstone et al. investigated the atmosphere of Pluto, which is colder and more compact than expected and hosts numerous extensive layers of haze. Weaver et al. examined the small moons Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra, which are irregularly shaped, fast-rotating, and have bright surfaces. Bagenal et al. report how Pluto modifies its space environment, including interactions with the solar wind and a lack of dust in the system. Together, these findings massively increase our understanding of the bodies in the outer solar system. They will underpin the analysis of New Horizons data, which will continue for years to come. Science , this issue pp. 1284 , 10.1126/science.aad9189 , 10.1126/science.aad8866 , 10.1126/science.aae0030 , & 10.1126/science.aad9045

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 71 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

New Horizons unveils the Pluto system In July 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft flew through the Pluto system at high speed, humanity's first close look at this enigmatic system on the outskirts of our solar system. In a series of papers, the New Horizons team present their analysis of the encounter data downloaded so far: Moore et al. present the complex surface features and geology of Pluto and its large moon Charon, including evidence of tectonics, glacial flow, and possible cryovolcanoes. Grundy et al. analyzed the colors and chemical compositions of their surfaces, with ices of H 2 O, CH 4 , CO, N 2 , and NH 3 and a reddish material which may be tholins. Gladstone et al. investigated the atmosphere of Pluto, which is colder and more compact than expected and hosts numerous extensive layers of haze. Weaver et al. examined the small moons Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra, which are irregularly shaped, fast-rotating, and have bright surfaces. Bagenal et al. report how Pluto modifies its space environment, including interactions with the solar wind and a lack of dust in the system. Together, these findings massively increase our understanding of the bodies in the outer solar system. They will underpin the analysis of New Horizons data, which will continue for years to come. Science , this issue pp. 1284 , 10.1126/science.aad9189 , 10.1126/science.aad8866 , 10.1126/science.aae0030 , & 10.1126/science.aad9045

Key concepts: Pluto, New horizons, Solar System, Astrobiology, Physics, Solar wind, Astronomy, Geology

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2Related paper 3
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Pluto’s interaction with its space environment: Solar wind, energetic particles, and dust — Research Paper | ScholarLens