科研之友
微信
新浪微博
Facebook
分享链接
摘要
Triton is one of the few bodies in the solar system with observed cryo-volcanic activity, in the form of plumes at its south pole, which suggests large-scale surface volatile transport over time. Triton's large variations in obliquity have motivated prior predictions of changing atmospheric column densities of several orders of magnitude, driven by seasonal evaporation of surface volatiles. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, we directly imaged Triton's surface and have detected large-scale differences in increased and decreased reflectance when compared with Voyager data at UV, visual, and methane-band wavelengths. Our surface map shows regions of increased brightness at near-equatorial latitudes and near the Neptune-facing side, and darkened regions near longitudes of +/- 180 degrees, indicating the presence of ongoing seasonal volatile transport.
- 出版日期2010-11-1
