Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered that Pluto’s high-altitude haze is a key driver of its climate, offering clues to Earth’s ancient atmosphere. The findings confirm a theory proposed in 2017 and provide new insights into the conditions that made early Earth habitable.
Pluto’s haze is composed of complex organic molecules formed through sunlight-driven reactions of methane and nitrogen. This unique phenomenon allows Pluto’s upper atmosphere to cool more efficiently than expected, reaching temperatures as low as -333°F (-203°C). The researchers found that Pluto’s large moon, Charon, does not interfere with their data due to the powerful infrared instruments on JWST.
The discovery confirms a hypothesis made just three years ago and opens up possibilities for similar haze-driven climates existing on other hazy worlds, such as Neptune’s moon Triton or Saturn’s moon Titan. The study also suggests that Earth’s ancient atmosphere might have been veiled in a similar haze of organic particles, which could help stabilize temperatures and foster early life.
The researchers are thrilled with the rapid confirmation of their hypothesis, highlighting the importance of JWST’s powerful instruments in advancing our understanding of planetary science.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/pluto/james-webb-telescope-discovers-a-new-kind-of-climate-on-pluto-unlike-anything-else-in-our-solar-system