NASA NTRS · 20020032307
Detection of Gaseous Methane on Pluto
Abstract
We obtained Pluto's spectrum using the CSHELL echelle spectrograph at NASA's IRTF on Mauna Kea, on 25-26 May 1992, with a spectral resolution of 13,300. The spectral range (5998 - 6018 per centimeter, or 1661.8 - 1666.9 nm) includes the R(0) and the Q(1) - Q(9) lines of the 2v3 band of methane. The resulting spectrum shows the first detection of gaseous methane on Pluto, with a column height of 1.20 (sup +3.15) (sub -0.87) cm-A (3.22 (sup +8.46) (sub -2.34) x 10(exp 19) molecule per square centimeter)).
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Young, Leslie, Tokunaga, Alan, Elliot, J., deBergh, Catherine, Owen, Tobias, Witteborn, Fred C.. 1995-01-01. Detection of Gaseous Methane on Pluto. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20020032307
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