Difference between revisions of "Charon"

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!Add-on!!Source!!Version!!Author!!Type!!Release Date!!Compatibility!!Wiki article
 
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|[https://www.orbiter-forum.com/resources/orbital-correction-for-pluto-and-moons.1388/ Orbital correction for Pluto and moons]||O-F Resources||2009-11-25||Unknown OHM Addon Developer||Scenery||25 November 2009||||
 
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|[https://www.orbiter-forum.com/resources/pluto.281/ Pluto]||O-F Resources||2006-11-13||Unknown OHM Addon Developer||Scenery||13 November 2006||||
 
|[https://www.orbiter-forum.com/resources/pluto.281/ Pluto]||O-F Resources||2006-11-13||Unknown OHM Addon Developer||Scenery||13 November 2006||||

Revision as of 02:02, 31 October 2024

Charon
Charon
Charon from Plutozip in Orbiter 2006P1
Designation
Name Charon
Reference body 134340 Pluto
Number of satellites
Planetary mean orbits
Epoch J2000 (1 January 2000)
Semimajor axis (a) 19600000 m
Eccentricity (e) 0.0
Inclination (i)
(0 radian)
Longitude of the ascending node (LAN, ☊) 53.0076487827642°
(0.925158 radian)
Longitude of periapsis (ϖ) 224.066662237591°
(3.910701 radian)
Mean longitude (L) 238.928729077048°
(4.170093 radian)
Selected physical parameters
Mean radius 593000 m
Mass 1.9×1021 kg
Sidereal rotation period 22994.1 sec (6.38725 hours)
SidRotOffset 0
Obliquity 0° (0 radian)
Note *Elements given are from Charon.cfg (Pluto.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
Orbital correction for Pluto and moons O-F Resources 2009-11-25 Unknown OHM Addon Developer Scenery 25 November 2009
Pluto O-F Resources 2006-11-13 Unknown OHM Addon Developer Scenery 13 November 2006
Pluto-Charon v2.0 O-F Resources 2005-05-09 Nighthawke Scenery 10 May 2005 Orbiter 2005
Pluto Pack AVSIM CharlotMan Scenery 17 July 2004

Gallery