Recent research results concerning the atmospheres of the outer planets and satellites are presented, covering Pluto, Triton, Neptune, Uranus, Titan, Saturn, and Io. In addition to presenting analyses of physical properties and atmospheric chemical composition, attention is given to (1) the origin of Pluto; (2) the possible variability of Triton; (3) the rotation periods of Uranus and Neptune, as well as their effective temperatures and internal heating, haze distribution, thermal structure, and weather and seasonal changes; (4) the seasonal and long-term changes of Titan, in addition to its thermal structure; (5) the dust and haze distribution of Saturn; and (6) Io's gaseous plasma and neutral torio. The data include Voyager 1 and 2 results for Io, along with Pioneer 11 results for Saturn and Titan.

The atmospheres of the outer planets and satellites

Spectrophotometry of Pluto from 3500 to 7350 Å

Ever since the first description of the synthesis of molecules by impinging protons on ices1, the possibility of formation of various molecules on cold surfaces by particle radiation has been widely discussed2–5. Because fluxes of light ions with energies of ∼1 keV AMU−1 exist in a wide variety of astrophysical sites6 there has been a dispute over whether molecules in space are formed by such a process or by gaseous reactions7. We have recently studied sputtering of species by bombarding simple frozen gases such as water, carbon monoxide and ammonia with light ions2. With these substances, only rather simple molecules were found. However, when bombarding methane, we detected much larger molecules in the sputtered beam—hydrocarbons containing up to at least 13 atoms. We propose, therefore, that bombardment of frozen methane by keV protons may produce large molecules in the Solar system.

Emission of large hydrocarbons from frozen CH 4 by keV proton irradiation

Speckle interferometric observations of Pluto and Charon

Mass-radius relationships and constraints on the composition of Pluto. II

Measurement of the diameter of Pluto by speckle interferometry

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Measurement of the diameter of Pluto by speckle interferometry