Pluto's hazy atmosphere may be collapsing as it moves farther from the sun
Pluto is on an icy march away from the sun. In 2114, it will turn back, but until then, its elliptical orbit will carry it to colder and darker parts of the outer solar system. This is Pluto's first time entering the outer solar system since its 1930 discovery, and along this journey, its atmosphere could slowly freeze out.
Pluto's atmosphere is gradually thinning as the dwarf planet moves farther from the Sun, according to a new study published in The Planetary Science Journal. Researchers led by Amanda Sickafoose observed Pluto's atmosphere over a period of six years and found a 16% decrease in atmospheric pressure between mid-2021 and July 2023.
This decline in pressure suggests that Pluto's hazey atmosphere may be undergoing a process known as "freeze-out," where gases condense onto the surface and become trapped. The study, which analyzed stellar occultation data, provides insight into Pluto's atmosphere, which is primarily composed of nitrogen with traces of methane and carbon monoxide.
As Pluto continues its 248-year orbit, scientists hope to gather more data to confirm or refute the trend of decreasing atmospheric pressure.
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