New Surprises from Mysterious Pluto

Scientific American ^ | 07/10/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

Pluto, the most distant of the nine planets in our solar system, has piqued the curiosity of astronomers once again. It seems the planet's atmosphere is expanding as it travels away from the sun, rather than contracting as expected. The only planet yet to have been visited by spacecraft, Pluto is relatively poorly known. But when it is aligned with the stars just so, observations from Earth are possible. Analyses of data collected last year during one of these rare configurations revealed the surprising atmospheric findings, which were published today in the journal Nature.

Because Pluto is currently journeying swiftly away from the sun, researchers thought that its temperature would fall and its atmosphere would subsequently collapse. Instead, James Elliot of M.I.T. and his colleagues found, the planet's temperature has increased by one degree Celsius since 1989, when it was closest to Sol.

In explanation, the researchers note that temperature variations in planetary surface layers tend to lag behind solar heating fluctuations. Thus although Pluto has been moving away from the sun's heat, the cooling effects of that distancing may not show up for another 10 years.

"In the long run, cooling and atmospheric contraction are inevitable," writes William Hubbard of the University of Arizona in an accompanying commentary. Further elucidation of what is going on, however, will require a spacecraft mission to this most remote planet, he asserts. "Pluto's orbit over the next few years offers an opportunity to learn more about this planet, at a time when technological developments make it feasible to consider a mission to it," Hubbard remarks. "But both time and money are in short supply." --Kate Wong

© 1996-2003 Scientific American, Inc. All rights reserved.

[bedolido]

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[eastsider]

[balrog666]

Ping.

[CCCV]

", researchers thought that its temperature would fall and its atmosphere would subsequently collapse. Instead, James Elliot of M.I.T. and his colleagues found, the planet's temperature has increased by one degree Celsius since 1989"

Couldn't possably be that God created it that way...

[bert]

....In explanation, the researchers note that temperature variations in planetary surface layers tend to lag behind solar heating fluctuations.....

The report failed to note or to consider the overall carbon usage that could contribute to the temperature change. The effects of global warming were apparently totally ignored.

[muffaletaman]

Maybe the sun is getting "hotter" - radiating more energy somehow... We know from the cool Maunder minimum that the solar constant isn't constant.

[CCCV]

"cool Maunder minimum "

Haven't heard of that - found it, gotta look at it.

Thanks...

[jae471]

Well, Pluto's atmosphere is mostly nitrogen, but it does contain methane, so you're not too far off -- global warming due to greenhouse effect.

[martin_fierro]

Hijo de Pluta. <|:)~

[genefromjersey]

Does Mickey know about this ?

[bedolido]

Hijo de Pluta. <|:)~

Guess gas could be making him hotter.

[TigerTale]

Couldn't possably be that God created it that way...

The article cites observed discrepencies between the way Pluto is behaving and the way some scientists expected it to behave. The scientists are obviously aware of their ignorance and are searching for a rational explanation. Are you proposing that there is no rational explanation--that God just handles Pluto differently? Do the laws of physics cease to exist on Pluto--much like on the stovetop of the witness in My Cousin Vinnie?

I don't see the sense in, or the justification for, your sarcastic remark.

[Consort]

Space friction. It's not getting enough attention.

[Consort]

...and the aether is warming up in this sector of the galaxy.

[ladtx]

...the planet's temperature has increased by one degree Celsius since 1989,...

Well, we've done it now, causing global warming on Pluto. Ban the SUV's, stop clear cutting the forests on Pluto. Omigod the sky is falling again.

[dead]

I don't see the sense in, or the justification for, your sarcastic remark.

God made him sarcastic.

[Screaming_Gerbil]

. "Pluto's orbit over the next few years offers an opportunity to learn more about this planet, at a time when technological developments make it feasible to consider a mission to it," Hubbard remarks. "But both time and money are in short supply."

They couldnt even get a lander on Mars the last couple of times they tried, as I recall - yeah, send a mission to Pluto...

[CCCV]

"I don't see the sense in, or the justification for, your sarcastic remark"

I'm fairly sure that the laws of physics apply pretty much anywhere you are. I'll agree my sarcasm was misplaced and apologise. It was primaraly directed at Scientific American who normally scorns anything that might remotely suggest a flaw in the billions and billions of years. this particular piece doesn't address that at all though.

I did learn something new from Muffaletaman out of the post.

I'm new here and just learning the "post culture" for this board.

[CCCV]

"God made him sarcastic"

Nope, I seem to have developed that bad habit on my own.
I really didn't mean it as sarcastic as it apparently was taken.
It's my first day here and it appears that I got off to a really bad start.

[dead]

I was just kidding around.

Welcome aboard.

[CCCV]

"Welcome aboard."

Thanks, I'll try and mind my manners a bit better.

[TontoKowalski]

It's my first day here and it appears that I got off to a really bad start.

Relax. All will be well. Personally, I never post on the science/physics threads, although I do peek in at them out of curiosity from time to time.

It's like a little trip to the zoo. People who understand this stuff and correspond about it (off the top of their head!) may as well be a different species than me.

The "smarties" are notoriously thin-skinned. Pay no attention to them. I'm glad you're here.

Welcome to FR!

[Just another Joe]

yeah, send a mission to Pluto...

As long as it's manned mission populated with demoncRATic liberals and paid for by the DNC, I see no problem.

[RightWhale]

I'm new here

Pluto will one day be a scientific, perhaps economic-industrial outpost of the solar system. We don't know much about Pluto, but if you were to visit the scientists and techies on Pluto one day, you might experience culture shock there, too.

[CCCV]

"Welcome to FR! "

Thanks,

I do enjoy jumping in over my head from time to time. It does a couple of things 1)sharpend my debating skills, and 2)I get to learn something (like I did today).

I'll poke around a little more before I jump again.

Have a great day!

[CCCV]

"you might experience culture shock there"

LOL

[TontoKowalski]

I'll poke around a little more before I jump again.

I'll ping you to the next good Clinton-bashing thread; sometimes there's a good discussion on beer-drinking or a red-hot bikini thread going on.

The "smarties" are not encouraged to participate on those. Well, to be fair, they have every right to bash the Clintons, but I draw the line at scientific snootiness on an Anna Kournikova link.

[Aracelis]

Ping

[E Rocc]

Anna Kournikova

We do have rules around here......

-Eric

[TigerTale]

I didn't notice it was your first day. Welcome to Free Republic.

BTW--congratulations impending arrival of your family's new addition.

[TigerTale]

Somehow a couple of words got dropped from my previous post.

"Congratulations on the impending arrival of your family's new addition."

That's what I get for starting a post, going up to the charity cake auction on the 5th floor, and then finishing the post. :)

I hope you enjoy FR. We are glad to have you here.

[CCCV]

"Welcome to Free Republic"

Thanks, Looks like my kind of place so far.

Intelligent, free thinkers who at times differ in opinion.

"family's new addition"

Very much planned but now seems like a better idea than reality - we have outgrown everything. This one requires a new house, mini-van, then there is school....

We are looking forward to he/she's arrival - thanks!

[aimhigh]

Thanks, I'll try and mind my manners a bit better.

Your manners are fine. The agnostics are always touchy.

[CCCV]

"manners are fine. The agnostics are always touchy"

Thanks - This look like it's going to be fun!

[gcruse]

I don't see this mentioned yet, so here goes.
Those who know better can point out the
mistakes I'll make.

Pluto orbits the sun such that different hemispheres
get differing amount of sunlight over time.  The Plutonian
pole is white and presumably covered with frozen
methane or some such.  The planet is tilted now with
the polar region more sunward, heating the ice and sending
it into the atmosphere, thickening it as would lead to
the observed event.  

[RadioAstronomer]

They couldnt even get a lander on Mars the last couple of times they tried, as I recall - yeah, send a mission to Pluto...

We need to SOON. Time is running out for a Pluto mission.

[RadioAstronomer]

Thanks for the ping! This is good news for a Pluto mission. :-)

[RadioAstronomer]

Space friction. It's not getting enough attention.

ROFL!

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[goodseedhomeschool]

HI CCCV Welcome to FR :)

[CCCV]

"HI CCCV Welcome to FR"

Thanks! This looks like it could be an additive place. I spent WAY too much time here yesterday.

[bedolido]

welcome aboard. I'm new as well (since March). most all people here are kind and understanding. a very few get semi-rude, don't take it to heart if it happens. Someone here told me just talk to people as if they were there with you and you were having a discussion.

Just remember... have fun and pick your battles.

If you ever need a friend or help, contact me. Again, welcome new friend.

[kjam22]

Pluto will one day be a scientific, perhaps economic-industrial outpost of the solar system. We don't know much about Pluto, but if you were to visit the scientists and techies on Pluto one day, you might experience culture shock there, too

ROFLOL

[kjam22]

AP.

Scientist now say, "Pluto isn't really behaving like we thought it would... but we're still real sure about the universe being 13 billion years old, and the composition of black holes, and the nature of the universe's expansion."

[goodseedhomeschool]

LOL it certainly is addictive to be sure. I use to come here every few days, lol, now it's the first place I go when I boot up.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Don't worry, fire away. If you don't get some slapping around you ain't really a freeper. Just grow that skin and keep at it.

[farmfriend]

the researchers note that temperature variations in planetary surface layers tend to lag behind solar heating fluctuations.

No SUVs on Pluto to blame.

[CCCV]

LOL!

Skins pretty thick from attacks here at work! Just a bit concerned that my first post drew such fire.

[justshutupandtakeit]

What you think is a joke or an innocous remark often hits an ideologue's hot button or a fanatic's pet peeve. You'll learn which ones they are. Certain subjects will generate huge numbers of responses while far more important ones get twenty responses. Go figure. But one thing that is really important. If you want to know the answer to just about any question a freeper will have it. And nothing false will stand long here once it starts getting examined by freepers.

Forget it you are already addicted. Just wait till something really important is happening then you won't want to sleep. While 911 or the War was happening or impeachment or elections this place is unreal and impossible to tear yourself away from. We know things here no other Americans know and can destroy the RATSmedia every time they start their lies.

No wonder the Leftists hate us. We helped make sure Bush was seated, pushed the Impeachment and have bedeviled the RATS incessently.