What are the most interesting things about Pluto? What are the most unique aspects of Pluto?
Some of our interest in Pluto is that of studying an planet of extremes. • Most distant planet (on average). • Smallest planet. • Pluto-Charon binary system are the most nearly equal in mass. • Very cold and thin atmosphere. • Surface covered in exotic frosts, methane (CH4), nitrogen (N2), carbon monoxide (CO). • Pluto’s surface may well have some of the brightest and darkest suface areas in the solar system. Bright from frost and ice, dark from organic molecules. • May have an “active” surface from winds and frost migration coupled with large change in its distance from the Sun. • Some models predict that Pluto’s atmosphere will disappear completely when it is furthest from the Sun. No other planet or satellite boasts this large of a seasonal change. Only comets beat Pluto in this respect. • Its internal composition provides important clues as to planetary building blocks in the outer solar system. We’ve studied the inner solar system (mostly the Earth and the Moon) and to fully under
