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R.B. Perry (NASA Langley Research Center), R.J. Rudy, C.C. Venturini, D.K. Lynch, S. Mazuk (The Aerospace Corporation), R.C. Puetter (University of California, San Diego), M.W. Buie, W.M. Grundy (Lowell Observatory)
Optical and near-infrared (0.47-2.5 micron) spectrophotometry of the Pluto-Charon system acquired on 2004 June 23.31 and June 24.32 are presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time simultaneous spectroscopic observations over this wavelength range have been reported for Pluto-Charon. The data were obtained using The Aerospace Corporation’s Optical and Near-Infrared Imaging Spectrograph with resolution 700-1000 on the Shane 3 m reflector of Lick Observatory. The sub-Earth longitude and latitude of Pluto on June 23 at the time of these observations were 241 degrees and 33 degrees with a phase angle of 0.47 degrees, and on June 24 184 degrees and 33 degrees with a phase angle of 0.50 degrees, using the “right-hand rule” convention where the angular momentum vector of the planet defines local north. The data contain numerous methane ice features beginning at approximately 0.72 microns that characterize the optical and near-infrared spectrum of Pluto. The spectra obtained are compared with data from earlier epochs. This work was supported by NASA and The Aerospace Corporation’s Independent Research and Development Program.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 5
© 2004. The American Astronomical Society.