News Astronomy

Haze keeps Pluto cool by kicking heat out to space

The dwarf planet may be the only place in the solar system to have its temperature regulated by solids, not gases

Pluto's haze

HEAT SHIELD  Layers of haze in Pluto’s atmosphere, shown here in an image from the New Horizons spacecraft, could radiate heat away from the dwarf planet and cool it down.

SwRI/JHUAPL/NASA

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

Blame Pluto’s haze for the dwarf planet’s unexpected chilliness.