Home Gadgets JWST Reveals Pluto’s Haze Cools Atmosphere, Paints Charon’s Poles Red

JWST Reveals Pluto’s Haze Cools Atmosphere, Paints Charon’s Poles Red

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Pluto’s thin haze of organic particles, confirmed by JWST’s mid-infrared observations, plays a crucial role in both cooling its mesosphere and launching methane into space. This methane escapes Pluto’s gravity, landing on Charon’s poles where radiation transforms it into reddish tholins. The study highlights how Pluto’s haze shapes not only its own atmospheric…Pluto’s thin haze of organic particles, confirmed by JWST’s mid-infrared observations, plays a crucial role in both cooling its mesosphere and launching methane into space. This methane escapes Pluto’s gravity, landing on Charon’s poles where radiation transforms it into reddish tholins. The study highlights how Pluto’s haze shapes not only its own atmospheric…