The interiors of Pluto and Charon: Structure, composition, and implications

Journal Article · Tue Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL016i011p01209· OSTI ID:5833177

Simonelli, D P ^[1]; Reynolds, R T ^[2]

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1. NASA Ames Research Center, IA (USA) Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
2. NASA Ames Research Center, IA (USA)

The authors review recent models of the internal structure of Pluto and Charon made possible by analysis of the Pluto/Charon mutual events. At a mean density of just over 2 g cm{sup {minus}3} and a predicted rock mass fraction of roughly 0.7, the Pluto/Charon system is significantly rockier than the icy satellites of the giant planets, a contrast which may reflect its formation in a CO-rich outer solar nebula rather than a circumplanetary nebula. Pluto and Charon may in fact be so rocky that they lost volatiles early in their history (possibly during a Charon-forming impact event), although this is still an open issue. Finally, they review the outlook for future study of the Pluto and Charon interiors.

• OSTI ID: 5833177
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 16:11; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DATA ANALYSIS
DENSITY
ICE
MASS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATTER
MORPHOLOGY
NEBULAE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY EVOLUTION
PLANETS
PLUTO PLANET
ROCKS
SATELLITES
SOLAR NEBULA
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
VOLATILE MATTER