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Charon
PLUTO’S MOON
Charon is Pluto’s largest moon, an unusually large moon in relation to the celestial body it orbits. Pluto and Charon could even be described as orbiting each other.
Charon was discovered by James Christy in 1978, and he named the moon after his wife Charlene. Charon is also the ferryman of the underworld in Greek mythology.
IN REAL LIFE
IN THE MODEL
DIAMETER
606 km
0.89 cm
DISTANCE TO PLUTO
19,592–
19,599 km
14.4 cm
ORBIT DURATION
(around Pluto)
6.4 Earth days
ROTATION DURATION
(around the axis)
6.4 Earth days
DISCOVERY
James Christy 1978
NAMED AFTER
Charlene Christy; Greek underworld
ferryman, Charon
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