Solid methane on Triton and Pluto - 3- to 4-micron spectrophotometry

by: Spencer, J. R.; Buie, M. W.; Bjoraker, G. L.

ABSTRACT

Methane has been identified in the Pluto Charon system on the basis of
absorption features in the reflectance spectrum at 1.5 and 2.3 microns
attention is presently given to observations of a 3.25 micron-centered
deep absorption feature in Triton and Pluto Charon system reflectance
spectra. This absorption may indicate the presence of solid methane,
constituting either the dominant surface species or a mixture with a
highly transparent substance, such as N2 frost.

Icarus, ISSN 0019-1035, vol. 88, Dec. 1990, p. 491-496.