The UV Spectrum of Pluto-Charon: IUE Observations from 2600 to 3100
Stern, S. A.; Skinner, T. E.; Trafton, L. M.; Brosch, N.; van Santvoort, J.
United States, Israel, Spain
Abstract
Observations of the UV spectra of the Pluto-Charon system were obtained between 1987 and 1988 using the large aperture of the IUE long-wavelength prime spectrograph. At the resolution and SNR of the data, no gas-phase spectral identifications were made. The present data indicate a geometric albedo of 0.35 + or - 0.05. Curve fitting the geometric albedo from 2600-3100 A, a blue slope is found which corresponds to a decrease of about 12 percent per 1000 A. An albedo reversal or trough between about 3000 A and the shortest ground-based data (at about 3500 A) is noted which may be due to a spectral absorption feature on the surface.