Pluto may have captured its moon Charon

Pluto May Have Won Its Moon Charon with a ‘Kiss’
Pluto and its largest moon Charon could have come together via a 10-hour ‘kiss-and-capture’ encounter after a grazing collision
Sealed With a Kiss: The Unexpected Origin Story of Pluto and Its Moon Charon
Pluto and Charon may have formed through a “kiss and capture” mechanism, with the two icy bodies colliding and becoming temporarily stuck together, spinning in a cosmic dance before separating into two objects that are forever bound in orbit,
How Pluto captured its largest moon Charon with a 10-hour icy 'kiss'
"We were definitely surprised by the 'kiss' part of kiss-and-capture. There hasn't really been a kind of impact before where the two bodies only temporarily merge before re-separating!"
Pluto-Charon formation scenario mimics Earth-Moon system
A researcher has used advanced models that indicate that the formation of Pluto and Charon may parallel that of the Earth-Moon system. Both systems include a moon that is a large fraction of the size of the main body,
Pluto’s largest moon formed in a ‘kiss and capture’ event, reveals new study
This "kiss and capture" mechanism offers a fresh perspective on planetary formation, particularly about Pluto and its largest moon Charon.
New "Kiss and Capture" Mechanism Might Explain The Formation Of Pluto And Charon
Our Moon is surprisingly massive compared to Earth, but that ratio is dwarfed if we consider Pluto and Charon. The latter is about 12 percent of the mass of Pluto and technically doesn’t orbit it. The pair of them orbit around a common center of mass outside of Pluto.
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The moon is about to 'swallow' Mars for 4 hours — and you can watch it from the US
On Jan. 13, bright Mars will disappear behind the full moon for several hours. It's the only lunar occultation of Mars ...
When is the next full moon? Look up early next week to see Wolf Moon in Michigan
The Wolf Moon, January's full moon, will reach peak illumination Monday. The previous full moon was December's Cold Moon.
NASA is calibrating new clocks so people can live on the moon
Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have calculated a new system for measuring lunar time. While not needed ...
Scientists stunned after learning Pluto and its biggest moon collided billions of years ago: ‘Raises a lot of interesting questions’
They needed some space. New research suggests Pluto may have had a “kiss” with its largest moon billions of years ago in a ...
New study suggests a completely different origin for Pluto’s largest moon
A new study suggests that the origin of Pluto's largest moon was quite different than our own. Here's what you need to know.
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What temperature is the moon?
"The temperature just wildly swings from extremely hot to extremely cold," John Monnier, a professor of astronomy at the ...
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What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2025
These changes in appearance are the phases of the moon. As the moon orbits Earth, it cycles through eight distinct phases. The four primary phases of the moon (new moon, first quarter, full ...
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The Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Heads to the Moon This Month: Here's What to Know
Space fans won't have to wait long for major launches to begin in 2025. NASA is kicking off the new year with a big mission ...