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How can NASA 'Detect' methane on Pluto?

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  • 01-06-2018 11:18am
    #1
    BrokenArrows
    Registered Users Posts: 7,500 ✭✭✭


    So apparently there are dunes of methane on pluto.
    https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/may/31/dunes-detected-on-pluto-by-scientists

    I see this all the time in space related articles where apparently we discover x, y or z elements on distant planets.

    I can see how they might be able to make an educated guess if they have a high enough resolution image on different wave lengths for Pluto because its relatively close to us. But the same cannot be said for planets light years away.

    How can NASA possibly determine with any degree of certainty that the dunes or any other atmosphere are made of without actually physically testing the substance?


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    #2
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,814 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    some of it is educated guessing , some simple molecules are common in the outer solar system , like water , it it walks like a duck etc. or what could possibly be activated by sunlight

    spectrographs can identify the optical signatures of various substances , methane or nitrogen is blueish init ? so there's that too

    the bit I liked about this they could figure out how much energy the wind had and work back to the particle size


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