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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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