Charon

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

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. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Charon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Charon.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Charon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Charon.html

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Charon

Charon in Greek mythology, an old man who ferried the souls of the dead across the Rivers Styx and Acheron to Hades; he received a fee of one obol for each soul.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Charon." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Charon." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Charon.html

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Charon

Charon In Greek mythology, boatman of the Lower World who ferried the souls of the dead across the Styx to Hades.

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"Charon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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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.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Charon

Charon in Greek mythology: see Hades .

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Charon

CharonAran, 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. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Charon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Charon.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Two estimates conflict on Charon's density. (Pluto's only satellite)
Magazine article from: Science News; 7/10/1993
News from Pluto and beyond. (Charon's elliptical orbit)
Magazine article from: Science News; 11/19/1994
Stellar passage yields Charon's girth.(Pluto moon Charon observation)(Brief...
Magazine article from: Science News; 2/18/2006

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