Pluto Occulation Shadow (IMAGE)

Southwest Research Institute

Pluto Occulation Shadow

Caption

During the August 15, 2018, Pluto occultation event, several telescopes deployed near the middle of the shadow’s path observed a phenomenon called a “central flash,” caused by Pluto’s atmosphere refracting light into a region at the very center of the shadow. This central flash indicates that the occultation data are very robust, bolstering SwRI’s findings that confirm that Pluto’s atmosphere is freezing out onto its surface as it moves farther away from the Sun.

Credit

NASA/SwRI

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