2026-09-21T20:45:32Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/1536862024-03-14T03:07:16Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131024
Person, Michael J.
McLellan-Cassivi, Claire
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
2024-03-13T13:26:35Z
2024-03-13T13:26:35Z
2024-02
2024-01-05T21:39:35.827Z
https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153686
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5357-5332
Pluto was observed over the course of three months with the goal of generating light curves to determine if volatile transport had occurred since the New Horizons Mission in 2015. Pluto’s surface is primarily made up of volatile ices, which are thought to migrate as Pluto’s seasons change. Further understanding of how these volatiles migrate across Pluto could further constrain models of Pluto’s atmosphere. The light curves generated in this project were compared to pre-New Horizons light curves to determine any volatile transport. These comparisons provide evidence of possible migration of ice in the Tombaugh Regio, which could be useful in further atmospheric research. Further observations with higher exposure times are needed to determine if volatile transport has happened in other major regions of Pluto.
S.B.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Copyright retained by author(s)
https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/
Photometric Explorations of Volatile Shifts on Pluto’s Surface
Thesis
application/pdf
Bachelor
Bachelor of Science in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Publication
unknown
unknown
<Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="db575346-a2b5-4ada-8a80-03f10322c99c">
<Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type>
<Title>Photometric Explorations of Volatile Shifts on Pluto’s Surface</Title>
<PublishedIn>
<Publication>
</Publication>
</PublishedIn>
<PublicationDate>2024-02</PublicationDate>
<Authors>
<Author>
<DisplayName>McLellan-Cassivi, Claire</DisplayName>
<Affiliation>
<OrgUnit>
</OrgUnit>
</Affiliation>
</Author>
</Authors>
<Editors>
</Editors>
<Publishers>
<Publisher>
<DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName>
<OrgUnit />
</Publisher>
</Publishers>
<License>https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/</License>
<Abstract>Pluto was observed over the course of three months with the goal of generating light curves to determine if volatile transport had occurred since the New Horizons Mission in 2015. Pluto’s surface is primarily made up of volatile ices, which are thought to migrate as Pluto’s seasons change. Further understanding of how these volatiles migrate across Pluto could further constrain models of Pluto’s atmosphere. The light curves generated in this project were compared to pre-New Horizons light curves to determine any volatile transport. These comparisons provide evidence of possible migration of ice in the Tombaugh Regio, which could be useful in further atmospheric research. Further observations with higher exposure times are needed to determine if volatile transport has happened in other major regions of Pluto.</Abstract>
<Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right"
>
</Access>
</Publication>