A new explanation for the reddish north pole of Pluto’s moon Charon | Phys.org

A trio of researchers at Purdue University has developed a new theory to explain why Pluto’s moon Charon has a reddish north pole. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, Stephanie Menten, Michael Sori and Ali Bramson, describe their study of the reddish surfaces of many icy objects in the Kuiper Belt, and how they might relate to Charon’s reddish pole.                          

Prior research has shown that many icy objects in the Kuiper belt are partly or entirely covered in reddish brown material. Prior research has also shown that the material is a kind of tholin—compounds that are formed when organic chemicals are showered with radiation. But that has raised the question of where the organic compounds may have come from. In this new effort, the researchers theorize that it comes from methane released from cryovolcanoes.

To test their theory, the researchers turned to Pluto’s moon Charon, whose north pole is covered with tholin. They note that prior research suggests that gases escaping from Pluto are responsible for the reddish pole. But prior research has also shown that the moon was once covered with a liquid ocean that contained many materials, including methane. …