Difference between revisions of "Charon"

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Charon is the largest natural satellite of [[Pluto]]. It is so large compared to Pluto, that its barycentre lies outside both objects. This is a common definition of a binary object, leading some astronomers to consider them a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_planet double dwarf planet].
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{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin:25px 0 0 10px; border:3px solid lightsteelblue;width:250px; font-size:90%; font-family:'Arial','Helvetica'; float: right; clear: right;"Pluto in Orbiter"
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!bgcolor="lightsteelblue" colspan="2" align="center" |Charon
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|-
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|colspan="2" align="center"|[[Image:Charon-plutopackzip-Orbiter2003P2.jpg|Charon|240px]]
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|-
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|colspan="2" align="center"|'''Charon from ''pluto_pack.zip'' in Orbiter 2003P2'''
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|-
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!bgcolor="lightsteelblue" colspan="2"|Designation
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|-
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|Name||align="right"|Charon
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|-
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|width="30%"|Reference body||align="right" width="30%"|134340 Pluto
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|-
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|width="30%"|Number of satellites||align="right" width="30%"|
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|-
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!bgcolor="lightsteelblue" colspan="2"|Planetary mean orbits
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|-
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|width="30%"|Epoch||align="right" width="50%"|J2000 (1 January 2000)
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|-
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|width="30%"|Semimajor axis (a)||align="right" width="50%"|19 600 000 m
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|-
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|width="30%"|Eccentricity (e)||align="right" width="30%"|0.0
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|-
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|width="30%"|Inclination (i)||align="right" width="30%"|99° <br> (1.72787596 radian)
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|-
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|width="30%"|Longitude of the ascending node (LAN, ☊)||align="right" width="30%"|0° <br> (0 radian)
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|-
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|width="30%"|Longitude of periapsis (ϖ)||align="right" width="30%"|114.591559° <br> (2 radian)
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|-
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|width="30%"|Mean longitude (L)||align="right" width="30%"|0° <br> (0 radian)
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|-
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!bgcolor="lightsteelblue" colspan="2"|Selected physical parameters
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|-
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|width="30%"|Mean radius||align="right" width="30%"|593000 m
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|-
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|width="30%"|Mass||align="right" width="30%"|3.3×10<sup>21</sup> kg
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|-
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|width="30%"|Sidereal rotation period||align="right" width="30%"|-551858 sec (153.294 hours)
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|-
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|width="30%"|SidRotOffset||align="right" width="30%"|0
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|-
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|width="30%"|Obliquity||align="right" width="30%"|0° (0 radian)
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|-
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|width="30%"|Note||align="right" width="30%"|*Elements given are from Charon.cfg (pluto_pack.zip)
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|}
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Charon is the largest natural satellite of [[Pluto]]. Its radius is about half that of Pluto, and their barycentre lies outside both objects. This is a common definition of a binary object, leading some astronomers to consider them a [[w:Double planet|double dwarf planet]].
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Charon was discovered in 1978 by [[w:James W. Christy|James W Christy]].
  
 
From the discovery of [[Nix]] and [[Hydra]], it was possible to estimate Charon's mass as roughly 10% that of Pluto. This implies it's approximately 45% ice, thought mostly to be water ice.
 
From the discovery of [[Nix]] and [[Hydra]], it was possible to estimate Charon's mass as roughly 10% that of Pluto. This implies it's approximately 45% ice, thought mostly to be water ice.
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== Charon in Orbiter ==
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Charon was introduced to Orbiter with the release of ''pluto_pack.zip'' in July 2004.
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
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|colspan="8"|<center>'''Orbiter versions and add-ons which include Charon'''</center>
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|-
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!Add-on!!Source!!Version!!Author!!Type!!Release Date!!Compatibility!!Wiki article
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|-
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|[https://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=&Name=&FileName=pluto_pack.zip&Author=&CatID=root Pluto Pack]||AVSIM||||CharlotMan||Scenery||17 July 2004||||
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|}
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== Gallery ==
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<gallery>
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Charon-plutopackzip-Orbiter2003P2.jpg|<center>Charon from ''pluto_pack.zip'' in Orbiter 2003P2</center>
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Charon in True Color - High-Res.jpg|<center>Charon imaged by [[w:New Horizons|New Horizons spacecraft]] in July 2015<br>from Wikimedia Commons</center>
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First Color Animated Images show Pluto and its Moon Charon.gif|<center>first color animation of the orbits of Pluto and Charon<br>from Wikimedia Commons</center>
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</gallery>
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{{Nsat-Stub}}
 
{{Nsat-Stub}}
 
{{PlutoMoons}}
 
{{PlutoMoons}}
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{{SolarSystem}}
  
 
[[Category: Articles]]
 
[[Category: Articles]]
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[[Category:Solar System]]
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[[Category:Celestial bodies]]
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[[Category:Natural satellites]]

Revision as of 03:21, 10 September 2024

Charon
Charon
Charon from pluto_pack.zip in Orbiter 2003P2
Designation
Name Charon
Reference body 134340 Pluto
Number of satellites
Planetary mean orbits
Epoch J2000 (1 January 2000)
Semimajor axis (a) 19 600 000 m
Eccentricity (e) 0.0
Inclination (i) 99°
(1.72787596 radian)
Longitude of the ascending node (LAN, ☊) 0°
(0 radian)
Longitude of periapsis (ϖ) 114.591559°
(2 radian)
Mean longitude (L) 0°
(0 radian)
Selected physical parameters
Mean radius 593000 m
Mass 3.3×1021 kg
Sidereal rotation period -551858 sec (153.294 hours)
SidRotOffset 0
Obliquity 0° (0 radian)
Note *Elements given are from Charon.cfg (pluto_pack.zip)

Charon is the largest natural satellite of Pluto. Its radius is about half that of Pluto, and their barycentre lies outside both objects. This is a common definition of a binary object, leading some astronomers to consider them a double dwarf planet.

Charon was discovered in 1978 by James W Christy.

From the discovery of Nix and Hydra, it was possible to estimate Charon's mass as roughly 10% that of Pluto. This implies it's approximately 45% ice, thought mostly to be water ice.

Charon in Orbiter

Charon was introduced to Orbiter with the release of pluto_pack.zip in July 2004.

Orbiter versions and add-ons which include Charon
Add-on Source Version Author Type Release Date Compatibility Wiki article
Pluto Pack AVSIM CharlotMan Scenery 17 July 2004

Gallery

  • Charon from pluto_pack.zip in Orbiter 2003P2
  • Charon imaged by New Horizons spacecraft in July 2015
    from Wikimedia Commons
  • first color animation of the orbits of Pluto and Charon
    from Wikimedia Commons
Retrieved from "https://www.orbiterwiki.org/index.php?title=Charon&oldid=431935"