Yes. Pluto has a very thin atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen, with methane and carbon monoxide also present. It is enormously more tenuous than Earth’s atmosphere and can change as Pluto moves along its orbit.
How a frozen world has gas above it
Pluto’s surface contains volatile ices. Some of those materials can sublimate, moving directly from solid ice into gas when conditions permit, and can later freeze back onto the surface.
Why the atmosphere is so thin
Pluto has relatively weak gravity and receives little solar energy. The amount of gas above its surface is tiny compared with the dense atmosphere that supports weather and breathing on Earth.
What New Horizons learned
The spacecraft observed atmospheric haze and helped researchers study Pluto’s composition, surface-atmosphere exchange and temperature structure. Its hazy layers were a striking discovery during the 2015 flyby.
Can Pluto have clouds or weather?
Scientists investigate atmospheric processes and possible condensates, but they are very different from familiar Earth rain clouds. We should not assume a nitrogen atmosphere produces Earth-like storms.
Frequently asked question
Is Pluto’s air breathable?
No. Its atmosphere is far too thin and does not contain a breathable oxygen supply.
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