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Charon
Charon The largest satellite of Pluto; also known as Pluto I. It orbits 19 599 km from the planet's centre in 6.387 days. Its orbital period and its axial rotation are the same as the rotation period of Pluto itself, so Charon not only keeps one face permanently turned towards Pluto but also hangs stationary over one point on the planet. As measured when it occulted a star in 2005, Charon is 1207 km in diameter, by far the largest satellite compared to its primary. Its mass is approximately one‐tenth that of Pluto, and the barycentre of the system lies above Pluto's surface, so the pair can be regarded as a double planet. Charon's density is about 1.7 g/cm3, suggesting a composition of rock and ice. Water ice has been detected on its surface. Charon was discovered in 1978 by the American astronomer James Walter Christy (1938– ).
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"Charon." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Charon." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Charon.html "Charon." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Charon.html |
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Charon
Charon The satellite of Pluto, discovered in 1979, which orbits at a mean distance of 19 405 km, with an orbital period of 6.387 days. Its equatorial radius is 586 km; mass 1.7 × 1021 kg; mean density 1800 kg/m3; surface gravity 0.21 (Earth = 1); albedo 0.375. Some consider Charon and Pluto to comprise a double-planet system.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Charon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Charon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Charon.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Charon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Charon.html |
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Charon
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Charon." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Charon." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Charon.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Charon." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Charon.html |
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Charon
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"Charon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Charon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Charon.html "Charon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Charon.html |
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Charon
Charon in astronomy, the natural satellite, or moon, of Pluto . |
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"Charon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Charon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Charon-ast.html "Charon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Charon-ast.html |
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Charon
Charon in Greek mythology: see Hades . |
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Cite this article
"Charon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Charon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Charon.html "Charon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Charon.html |
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Charon
Charon
•Aran, Arran, baron, barren, Darren, Karen, Sharon, yarran
•Biafran, saffron
•plastron • Saharan • Sumatran
•heron, perron
•rhododendron • chevron
•Aaron, Charon, Dáil Eireann
•apron
•matron, patron
•Libran
•decahedron, dodecahedron, octahedron, polyhedron, tetrahedron
•children • citron • grandchildren
•stepchildren • godchildren
•schoolchildren
•Byron, Chiron, environ, Myron, siren
•sporran, warren
•squadron • Cochran
•Andorran, Doran, Lauren, loran
•cauldron
•Kieran, Madeiran, schlieren
•Honduran, Van Buren
•Aldebaran • Auberon • Acheron
•Cameron, Decameron
•cateran, Lateran
•veteran
•dipteran, hemipteran
•lepidopteran • Lutheran
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"Charon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Charon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Charon.html "Charon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Charon.html |
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