Modelling suggests that Pluto's atmospheric temperature is regulated by haze, unlike the other planetary bodies in the Solar System. The finding has implications for our understanding of exoplanetary atmospheres. See Letter p.352 Pluto's atmospheric temperature has been observed to be colder than predicted by standard theory. One possible explanation is the presence of water vapour, but it would have to be many orders of magnitude out of equilibrium to generate such a cool atmosphere. Xi Zhang and collaborators show through modelling that Pluto's atmospheric temperature is regulated by haze particles, rather than gas molecules, making it unique in the Solar System. This leads to a clear prediction that Pluto should be brighter than previously thought at mid-infrared wavelengths. This prediction should be testable next year with the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope.

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行星科学：阴霾冷却冥王星的大气层

建模表明冥王星的大气温度受雾霾调节，与太阳系中的其他行星体不同。这一发现对我们对系外行星大气的理解具有重要意义。参见信件第 352 页 冥王星的大气温度已被观察到比标准理论预测的要冷。一种可能的解释是水蒸气的存在，但要产生如此凉爽的大气，它必须偏离平衡许多数量级。Xi Zhang 和合作者通过建模表明，冥王星的大气温度是由雾霾粒子而不是气体分子调节的，这使其在太阳系中独一无二。这导致了一个明确的预测，即冥王星应该比以前认为的中红外波长更亮。