TY - JOUR
T1 - The surface composition of Charon
T2 - Tentative identification of water ice
AU - Marcialis, Robert L.
AU - Rieke, George H.
AU - Lebofsky, Larry A.
PY - 1987
Y1 - 1987
N2 - The 3 March 1987 Charon occultation by Pluto was observed in the infrared at 1.5, 1.7, 2.0, and 2.35 micrometers. Subtraction of fluxes measured between second and third contacts from measurements made before and after the event has yielded individual spectral signatures for each body at these wavelengths. Charon's surface appears depleted in methane relative to Pluto. Constancy of flux at 2.0 micrometers throughout the event shows that Charon is effectively black at this wavelength, which is centered on a very strong water absorption band. Thus, the measurements suggest the existence of water ice on Pluto's moon.
AB - The 3 March 1987 Charon occultation by Pluto was observed in the infrared at 1.5, 1.7, 2.0, and 2.35 micrometers. Subtraction of fluxes measured between second and third contacts from measurements made before and after the event has yielded individual spectral signatures for each body at these wavelengths. Charon's surface appears depleted in methane relative to Pluto. Constancy of flux at 2.0 micrometers throughout the event shows that Charon is effectively black at this wavelength, which is centered on a very strong water absorption band. Thus, the measurements suggest the existence of water ice on Pluto's moon.
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U2 - 10.1126/science.237.4820.1349
DO - 10.1126/science.237.4820.1349
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0023517407
SN - 0036-8075
VL - 237
SP - 1349
EP - 1351
JO - Science
JF - Science
IS - 4820
ER -