SOFIA Finds Clues Hidden in Pluto’s Haze

When the New Horizons spacecraft passed by Pluto in 2015, one of the many fascinating features its images revealed was that this small, frigid world in the distant solar system has a hazy atmosphere.

Now, new data helps explain how Pluto’s haze is formed from the faint light of the Sun 3.7 billion miles away as it moves through an unusual orbit.

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Credits: NASA

Still image from an animation illustrating Pluto passing in front of a star during an eclipse-like event known as an occultation. SOFIA observed the dwarf planet as it was momentarily backlit by a star on June 29, 2015 to analyze its atmosphere

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Credits: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI

High-resolution color image of the haze layers in Pluto’s atmosphere, acquired by the New Horizons spacecraft on July 14, 2015

Source / Image Courtesy

SOFIA studied Pluto's shadow as it traveled across the surface of the Earth at more than 53,000 mph on the night of June 29, 2015.

The careful planning and real-time adaption of the observatory’s flight path leading up to observation allowed scientists to analyze Pluto's atmosphere.

Credits: NASA