Imagine going back around 4. 5 billion years ago. In the far reaches of the solar system, a tiny world called Pluto suddenly had a dance partner — Charon. For just a short time, maybe just hours, they twirled around each other like dancers at a cosmic ball. This unexpected encounter led to the formation of Pluto’s moon system, which we see today.

Scientists have always been puzzled about how Charon, the biggest of Pluto’s five moons, ended up orbiting around it. A new study in Nature Geoscience suggests a fascinating timeline that might explain this mystery.

“Pluto and Charon are special because Charon is half the size of Pluto, ” explains Adeene Denton, a planetary scientist from the University of Arizona who led the research. “That’s pretty unique; the only other similar system is Earth and its moon. ”

Charon measures about 750 miles across, while Pluto is around 1, 500 miles in diameter. This size ratio makes common theories about the moon’s formation less likely. For example, it’s uncertain if Charon could have formed from debris around Pluto or been caught by its gravity.

Instead, scientists are looking at a different scenario. They think a massive collision, similar to the one believed to have created Earth’s moon, could be the answer. This kind of impact might have sent chunks of material flying, which then coalesced to form Charon.

How Pluto and Charon Might Have Met

Actions