• DOI:10.1126/science.1127293
Corpus ID: 36703085

Forced Resonant Migration of Pluto's Outer Satellites by Charon

@article{Ward2006ForcedRM,
  title={Forced Resonant Migration of Pluto's Outer Satellites by Charon},
  author={W. R. Ward and R. Canup},
  journal={Science},
  year={2006},
  volume={313},
  pages={1107 - 1109}
}

W. R. Ward, R. Canup

Published 2006

Physics, Medicine

Science

Two small moons of Pluto have been discovered in low-eccentricity orbits exterior to Pluto's large satellite, Charon. All three satellite orbits are nearly coplanar, implying a common origin. It has been argued that Charon formed as a result of a giant impact with primordial Pluto. The orbital periods of the two new moons are nearly integer multiples of Charon's period, suggesting that they were driven outward by resonant interactions with Charon during its tidal orbital expansion. This could… CONTINUE READING

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