B What is the atmospheric pressure on Pluto and how can it sustain gases?

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Pluto's atmosphere, primarily composed of nitrogen with traces of methane and sulfuric acid, exists despite its distance from the Sun due to its highly eccentric orbit, which allows it to be closer to the Sun at times. The gases present on Pluto are believed to sublimate from the surface when it approaches the Sun, transitioning from solid to gas. The atmospheric pressure on Pluto, measured by the New Horizons spacecraft, is approximately 1 Pa (10 μbar), significantly lower than Earth's. This low pressure means that gases can exist in a gaseous state despite the cold temperatures. Understanding these dynamics helps clarify how gases can be sustained on such a distant and frigid body.
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The New Horizon reached Pluto in April of previous year.
It shown that Pluto's surface contains mixtures of various gases , such as CH4 and gaseous H2SO4.
Now , the query of mine is that-
Pluto is situated very far from Sun and is very cold.
Please someone justify me how can this gases be present on the Planet.
I am ready to read any explanations theory.
 
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The atmosphere is primarily Nitrogen, but there is a small component of complex molecules.
As you say Pluto is far from the Sun, but it's orbit is highly eccentric, sometimes it's closer to the Sun then Neptune.
It may be that these molecules are frozen on the surface when Pluto is most distant,
but they sublimate to become part of the atmosphere when it's closer
 
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Gasses/liquids do not have a boiling "point". The have a boiling point at a specific temperature or a specific pressure. Below the triple point solids can still sublime into gas.
 
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Thanks to both of you.
I got a basic idea of this presence of gases.
It is due to sublimation.
Please don't mind , I have a query-
Are the gases volatile ?
 
John Dalton said:
Are the gases volatile ?
Can you clarify what you mean when you ask whether a gas is volatile? Normally, one would say that a liquid (or solid) is volatile or not based on how readily it will evaporate (or sublimate).
 
Sorry jbriggs444, I asked a wrong query I initially.
I meant to say that what is atmospheric pressure on the Pluto.
I think this is a strange question.
But I need to know this to conclude that the presence of gases on Pluto is due to sublimation.
(According to Stefan r stating that-
stefan r said:
Gasses/liquids do not have a boiling "point". The have a boiling point at a specific temperature or a specific pressure. Below the triple point solids can still sublime into gas.
 
John Dalton said:
what is atmospheric pressure on the Pluto.
Apparently the New Horizons spacecraft was equipped to obtain a fairly accurate measurement for that
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Pluto
Surface pressure of the atmosphere of Pluto, measured by New Horizons in 2015, is about 1 Pa (10 μbar), roughly 100,000 times less than Earth's atmospheric pressure.
 
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