Published a paper by IOTA/ME: Study of Pluto’s atmosphere based on 2020 stellar occultation light curve results

https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2021/09/aa41718-21/aa41718-21.html
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202141718

Title: Study of Pluto’s atmosphere based on 2020 stellar occultation light curve results

Authors: Atila Poro, Farzaneh Ahangarani Farahani, Majid Bahraminasr, Maryam Hadizadeh, Fatemeh Najafi Kodini, Maryam Rezaee, and Mahsa Seifi Gargari

Abstract: On 6 June 2020, Pluto’s stellar occultation was successfully observed at a ground-based observatory in Iran, and Pluto’s atmospheric parameters were investigated. We used an atmospheric model of Pluto, assuming a spherical and transparent pure N2 atmosphere. Using ray-tracing code, the stellar occultation light curve was satisfactorily fit to this model. We found that Pluto’s atmospheric pressure at the reference radius of 1215 km was 6.72 ± 0.48 μbar in June 2020. Our estimated pressure shows a continuation of the pressure increase trend observed since 1988 and does not confirm the rapid pressure decrease tentatively reported in 2019. The pressure evolution is consistent with a seasonal transport model. We conclude that the N2 sublimation process from Sputnik Planitia is continuing. This study’s result is shown on the diagram of the annual evolution of atmospheric pressure.